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| Harold Alarcon, who recently signed a one-year deal with San Juan, is among those who will fall under a new PBA Draft eligibility rule. Richard Esguerra (file photo) |
MANILA--An eligibility rule that will be implemented starting with the PBA Season 51 Draft will require incoming aspirants who have already turned pro through other play-for-pay circuits to be released from their previous contracts before joining.
Commissioner Willie Marcial made the announcement on Tuesday night, which will mainly affect players who are in the MPBL.
"Once nag-apply ka sa draft dapat wala kang kontrata sa ibang team sa ibang liga," said Marcial in the PBA website.
Although each season begins on varying dates, the PBA is currently basing its schedule on the FIBA-suggested pro basketball calendar, which usually runs from October-June.
The ongoing 50th season, though, is expected to continue until December with breaks in between the calendar to give way to an upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifier window and the Asian Games.
On the other hand, since resuming its regular season in 2022, the MPBL has not adhered to the FIBA calendar and is running through a calendar-year schedule from March-December.
The difference in the respective leagues' schedules has led to an overlap in the MPBL contract of a player already drafted into the PBA.
In an agreement, the said hoopers must finish their contractual obligations with their mother MPBL teams before they can be signed by the PBA teams that drafted them.
The aforementioned agreement is the reason why the last two number one picks, Balti Baltazar and Geo Chiu, did not immediately join Converge and Terrafirma, respectively.
What prolonged the teams' wait was that Baltazar and Chiu made it all the way to the MPBL championship for Pampanga and Abra, respectively.
Chiu can only join the Dyip by the PBA Commissioner's Cup starting March 11, which means that unless they make a surprise deep playoff run, the 6-foot-10 giant might miss out on Rookie of the Year eligibility.
In the new ruling, though, the MPBL players and even those from other pro leagues like TAT, Japan B.League, and KBL should be free from any ongoing live contract before they can declare for the PBA Draft.
This also ensures that MPBL players drafted into the PBA will be part of the 12 member teams' opening night roster instead of only joining in late into the first conference.
It further helped that the PBA will only hold its Season 51 Draft next January, which means draft applicants who are already pro through another route can be easily released from their previous deals.
"Once ma-draft and ma-sign ka ng mother team mo, makakalaro ka na agad," Marcial further said.
The 2027 draft class is tipped to be the most loaded ever, with the likes of Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano, and Terrence Fortea, who recently signed with San Juan on one-year deals, among those who could be drafted in the first round.
