MANILA – Three Western Visayas-based players have been cleared for the 2021 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft to be done virtually on Sunday afternoon.
Bacolod City-natives Kim Lee Bayquin and Jeffrey Manday and Iloilo City-native Michael Jay Javelosa were among the 86 players who made to the final list of rookie aspirants.
Bayquin and Javelosa were former University Athletic Association of the Philippines players with Far Eastern University Tamaraws and Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, respectively, while Manday played for Colegio de Sta. Ana de Victorias before.
Seven Filipino-American were declared ineligible after failing to submit their Department of Justice Recognition and Bureau of Immigration Affirmation papers namely Taylor Statham, Jason Brickman, Jeremiah Gray, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Tyrus Hill, John Paul Gulfo, and Christopher Cancio. JJ Espanola, John Paul Zarco, Ezra Ocampo, and Neiloween De Jesus, on the other hand, withdrew from the draft.
Other notable players who were cleared for the draft were Joshua Munzon, Jamie Malonzo, Calvin Oftana, Mikey Williams, Leonard Santillan, Alvin Pasaol, Larry Muyang, Troy Rike, Franky Johnson, Jerrick Ahanmisi, and Ben Adamos.
Also approved were James Laput, Aljun Melecio, Nic Demusis, Anton Asistio, Alec Stocton, RK Ilagan, Taylor Browne, Andre Paras, Andrei Caracut, Philip Manalang, Jerie Pingoy, Dhon Reverente, Jose Presbitero, Jun Manzo, and Mark Olayon.
Terrafirma Dyip will be picking first in the virtual draft followed by NorthPort Batang Pier. NLEX Road Warriors follows suit at three and four while Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and Alaska Aces go fifth and sixth, respectively.
Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, Dyip, Meralco Bolts, Magnolia Hotshots, Batang Pier, and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings are going to close out the first round of selection in that order./PN
