PBA Draft 2008-2009 news and updates

[daspark]

---

pls post kung unsa na updates sa draft.... kinsa mga fil-am ang mo sud sa PBA and of course the trade rumors for each team...


let me start! --- i think gabe norwood cant make it to the PBA this year

[skadiboy]

Norwood beats draft deadline

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Fil-Am player Gabe Norwood, through his agent Mark Chan, filed his application for the 2008 PBA Rookie Draft yesterday, without assurance he would be able to secure required documents.

Norwood beat the deadline for application among Fil-foreign players with his agent submitting only his Philippine passport and an immigration certificate showing the player is not in the bureau’s blacklist and watch list records.

The versatile 6-foot-5 player needed only the Philippine passport as his clearance to play for the RP team in the Fiba-Asia Olympic qualifier in Tokushima, Japan last year.

To be able to join the PBA draft pool, Norwood needs to back up his claim to Filipino citizenship with immigration certification and Department of Justice clearance.

The Commissioner’s Office said Solomon Mercado and Robert Reyes also have yet to complete requirements that will make them eligible for the draft exercise set Aug. 31 in Market, Market at the Fort in Taguig.

Welcoat, which will likely gain the top pick, is looking to enlist either Jared Dillinger or Mercado.– Nelson Beltran



Hope he makes it to the PBA.

[skadiboy]

Norwood decides to join PBA draft



By WAYLON GALVEZ

Fil-Am Gabe Norwood has decided to join the PBA Rookie Draft despite not having a clearance from the Department of Justice which is a requirement for all foreign-born players applying to play in the PBA.


Norwood is banking on his stint as a two-time member of Philippine teams, for which he was given a Philippine passport, to ease his entry into the pro league.

If allowed to enter the draft, Norwood, a 6-5 guard/forward, could be one of the top two picks, according to basketball observers. The draft will be held on Aug. 31.

Mark Chan, Norwood’s agent, yesterday submitted the documents of the former George Mason University yesterday, beating the deadline of the PBA for foreign-born players.

Among the documents submitted by Chan at the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City were the photocopy of Norwood’s passport and a Certificate of Recognition from the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation.

Norwood represented the country in two international tournaments, including last year’s SEA Games in Thailand where the Harbour Centre-backed RP team won the gold medal.

For playing for the country twice, a basketball official believes Norwood maybe be able to secure a special order from Malacañang, the same one given to Alex Crisano who plays for Ginebra.

"If Crisano was given a special order, then it can also be given to Norwood who is a perfect model as a ball player. He has sacrificed a lot for the country and is a crowd favorite wherever he goes," said a basketball official who requested that his name is not mentioned.

Norwood won numerous honors in his one-year stint with Hapee Toothpaste in the PBL such as rookie of the year in 2008 and as a member of the PBL mythical first five.

In his application, Norwood attached his family tree where he traced his Filipino roots from his great grandparents and other pertinent papers establishing he has Filipino lineage.

He is the latest foreign-born player to apply for the Draft after Harbour Centre’s Sol Mercado and Rob Reyes.

The legality of the documents presented by Norwood, Reyes, Solomon, as well as Fil-foreign players Jared Dillinger, Kevin Dalafu, Christopher Viardo and Charles Waters will be reviewed by PBA the teams from July 12 to August 11.

Teams have until Aug. 13 to contest the papers.

So far, a total of 17 prospects have been listed among the initial batch of players hoping to turn pro later this year. Among them are La Salle’s TY Tang and Cholo Villanueva, FEU’s Jeff Chan, and UE’s Mark Borboran and Kelvin Gregorio.

Mercado, a 6-foot-2 guard, played for Batang Pier’s back-to-back title conquest in the PBL while Reyes, a defensive specialist, was a member of the Harbour’s first PBL championship in 2006.

Dillinger, on the other hand, is a 6-foot-5 guard-forward seeing action with the Pampanga Buddies in the Liga Pilipinas, Dalafu played for the San Mig Coffee in the PBL while Viardo saw action for Bacchus Energy Drink. Waters listed himself as native of Clark, Pampanga.

[amamangloy]

up on this kay hapit na sila manuwa!

[focus888]

up ni please...unsay update ani?

[kamikaze426]

Watch out for the Talk n text pick..

[k-bai]

Watch out for the Talk n text pick..

Nkahbaw na d i ka bro kung kinza ang ma pick sa TNT?

Murag c Dillinger cguro na..

Knang nagduwa sa pampanga buddies sa liga pilipinas

[dieseldust]

Puro ra ni hype ning mga draftees, ig start sa season d gyud gamiton sa mga coaches. As usual 1-3 picks ra maoy mapahimuslan. lol

[dark_phoenix]

wala pa guro au ni updates....the champs series isabout to start pah.....

[LanCe]

Jason Castro daw is available for the PBA draft kay unfortunately ni disband ang NBL's Singapore Slingers in which he is under contract for 7mos.