PBA lifts age limit for Fil-foreign draft applicants

Jason Brickman is now eligible for the PBA Draft after the league lifted the age limit for Fil-foreign aspirants. Nikki Collantes (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY--Filipino-foreign players who wish to join the PBA Draft can now declare for it even if they are old enough as the league lifted the age limit for the said applicants.

Before, Fil-foreign players could not join the PBA Draft if they turned 31 or older already, but in the new rule which was approved on May 26, Fil-foreign players can now declare for the draft regardless of their age.

This means the likes of Jason Brickman, who is turning 32 this November, can still join the PBA Draft if they want to.

The league then shed some light on the amended draft rule regarding Filipino hoopers who played as imports abroad.

In a statement, the PBA said, "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. However, if the applicant decides to join the draft in the fourth or fifth year of his eligibility after playing in a pro league overseas, he will have to go through a special computer-generated lottery among the 12 teams. An applicant who has played abroad and joined the draft in the sixth year of his eligibility or more, his application is subject to conditions and approval of the board [of governors]."

The PBA also confirmed that Terrafirma will hold the number one pick for the PBA Draft, which is set on Sept. 17 at the Market Market Activity Area in Taguig.

Blackwater will be selecting second overall, while Rain Or Shine follows suit with two consecutive first-round picks, the number three pick that really belongs to them and the number four pick that they acquired from Phoenix.

NorthPort picks fifth, Phoenix picks sixth, NLEX picks seventh, and Meralco picks eighth before Converge drafts two straight picks, the ninth and the 10th selections.

NorthPort once again enters the draft with the 11th pick, and Terrafirma closes the first round with the 12th pick.

The deadline for the draft application is on Sept. 10, while the PBA Draft Combine is set for Sept. 12-13 at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong.

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