PBA gears up for rookie draft

FOUR Fil-Am players, led by Gabe Norwood, Jared Dillinger and Solomon Mercado, along with homegrown star Jayson Castro, lead the rookies whose fate will be put on the line this Sunday when the pro league holds its 2008 Annual Draft at the Market! Market! Place in Taguig.

In all, 47 applicants are available for the draft, although the list is expected to be trimmed down after the Commissioner’s Office has screened the requirements submitted by all prospective rookies just before Draft Day.

The pro league has reportedly waived the requirements for Norwood, who saw action for the national team in last year’s FIBA-Asia tourney in Japan.

Dillinger, along with fellow Fil-Ams Chris Viardo and Charles Waters have been included in the list although it is not known whether they haves submitted original copies of their affirmation from the Department of Justice and certification from the Bureau of Immigration. Otherwise, they won’t be considered elegible for the Draft.

Norwood, the 6-foot-5 guard out of George Mason University, and Dillinger are expected to be high on the list of draftees.

Rain or Shine (formerly Welcoat), Talk N Text, and Magnolia own the first three picks, with the Welbest franchise tabbing the No. 1 overall selection for the season straight season. The Phone Pals also have the No. 4 pick, followed by Alaska (5), Air21 (6), Purefoods (7), Air21 (8), Barangay Ginebra (9) and Sta. Lucia (10).

Other noted talents in this year’s batch include former national players Jeff Chan, Jonathan Fernandez, Beau Belga, Rob Reyes, TY Tang, Mark Borboran, Kelvin Gregorio, Cholo Villanueva, NCAA Most Valuable Player Kelvin dela Pena, Kelvin Delafu, Pong Escobal, Larry Rodriguez, Patrick Cabahug, Christian Espiritu and Lawrence Bonus.

Majority of the applicants saw action in the Rookie Camp at the Emilio Aguinaldo College gym last Aug. 22-23.