Age cap for Fil-foreign PBA draft aspirants scrapped

MANILA, Philippines — The 2023 PBA Rookie Draft is around the bend, and a deluge of applicants is expected a few days before the deadline for submission of applications from locals and Fil-Foreigners at 5 p.m. on Sept. 10 at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City.

A new league policy as approved by the PBA board of governors in a meeting on May 26 will be implemented in this draft where Terrafirma is No. 1 in the draft order.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial described as “very welcoming” the revised rules, including the lifting of the age limit of 30 years old for Fil-foreign players.

The uniform rule now is that a draft applicant, whether local or Fil-Foreign, is eligible if he is 22 years old and above or at least 19 but has completed at least two years of college.

Another rule is that a draft applicant must have studied and played in collegiate leagues in the country before playing in a professional league overseas, regardless of age, provided that he joins the PBA draft within the third year of his eligibility.