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| Jio Jalalon effectively forewent his final year at Arellano by applying for the special Gilas draft. (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA--The members of Gilas 5.0 formalized their entry to the PBA Draft by submitting their application right before the Wednesday deadline elapsed.
Mac Belo, Kevin Ferrer, Jio Jalalon, Mike Tolomia, Russel Escoto, RR Pogoy, Arnold Van Opstal, Von Pessumal, and Matt Wright, the remaining Gilas players who have yet to apply, formally declared for the Oct. 30 draft during deadline day. Ed Daquioag, Fonzo Gotladera, and Carl Cruz were among the early entrants.
[Related Story: Carl Cruz declares for PBA Draft, heads early entrants list]
The said development means that the special draft where each team will choose from the Gilas players will push through as scheduled on draft day right before the regular draft.
Speaking of the regular draft, more star guards threw their names to the draft class mix by the application deadline.
Pao Javelona, Mikee Reyes, Achie Iñigo, McJour Luib, and Jonathan Grey formally joined the draft as they also sent their applications by the eleventh hour. Grey actually applied for last year's draft, but a rule requiring players to play for the PBA D-League for at least seven games barred him, who played for one season with Racal, from joining the said draft.
Teams looking for a big man can still look forward for the said draft as Chris Javier also applied for the draft.
Fifty-five players, including the Gilas young guns, applied for the PBA Draft. They will undergo the draft combine at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong on Wednesday and Thursday.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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