The guessing game has begun—who will be this year’s no. 1 rookie draft pick?
Will it be Lyceum star player CJay Perez, former National University standout Bobby Ray Parks or Robert Bolick of San Beda University?
Columbian Dyip, which owns the no. 1 pick, will have a happy problem choosing who suits its team best when the 2018 Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Draft is held on Dec. 16 at the Robinsons Place Manila.
Some 48 hopefuls made themselves available for the Rookie Draft, considered one of the richest batches in years.
The pair of University of the Philippines’ Paul Desiderio and Diego Dario were the last ones to submit their names over the weekend as this year’s applicants surpassed last season’s list of 44.
The league’s decision to extend the deadline for local players to submit their applications from Dec. 3 to 10 allowed both Desiderio and Dario to make the list at the last minute after playing for the Fighting Maroons in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 81 men’s basketball finals against eventual champion Ateneo Blue Eagles.
The official list of applicants, however, won’t be released by the league until Dec. 14 or two days before the draft proceedings, which formally sets in motion the PBA’s 44th season.
All rookie hopefuls will also undergo the traditional Draft Combine scheduled Dec. 12 to 13 at the Hoops Center in Mandaluyong.
Trevis Jackson, Matt Salem, Bong Quinto, Robbie Manalang, Abu Tratter, John Paul Calvo, Michael Calisaan, Teytey Teodoro, Javee Mocon, and Carlos Isit were among the early players who submitted their applications.
Incidentally, three players with the same surnames are included in the draft, namely, Kyles Lao of University of the Philippines, Kent Jefferson Lao of University of Santo Tomas, and Edrian Lao of University of the Visayas.
Last year, Fil-German Christian Standhardinger was selected by San Miguel Beer as the top rookie pick.”‹