FILE– Justine Baltazar is vying for a spot in a PBA team. UAAP PHOTO
Seventy players submitted applications to take part in the PBA Rookie Draft set July 14 at Glorietta in Makati City, the league said Friday.
Justine Baltazar, Sedrick Barefield, Dave Ildefonso, RJ Abarrientos, Caelan Tiongson and Kai Ballungay were among the prominent names expected to be the top picks from the list which has a significantly fewer number of aspirants than last year’s record field of 128.
Converge owns the top pick followed by Blackwater, Terrafirma, Phoenix, NorthPort, NLEX, Rain or Shine with two picks, Magnolia, Barangay Ginebra, Meralco and San Miguel Beer.
Baltazar was initially tagged as a cinch of being chosen by the FiberXers, but the entry of other fancied talents may shatter those expectations.
READ: As deadline expires, PBA Draft pool suddenly ‘interesting’
Other familiar players were able to turn in their draft papers, namely Jerom Lastimosa, Ben Phillips, Evan Nelle, CJ Cansino, Jonnel Policarpio, Paolo Hernandez, Mark Nonoy and Brandon Ramirez.
The list could be trimmed after next week’s draft combine at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City as the league will screen all requirements submitted.
Applicants are mandated to take part in the two-day combine, provided they have valid excuses.
READ: Converge has franchise find as Justine Baltazar enters PBA Draft
Barefield, Tiongson and Ballungay are among the 19 players listed by the league as Filipino-foreigners, needing only to submit a Philippine passport to be eligible.
Other draft applicants are Roel Alcaide, Peter Alfaro, Ronelle Jordan Arciaga, Jordan Bartlett, Darwish Vince Bederi, Romulo Victor Berjay, Jared Brown, CJ Catapusan, Miguel Corteza, Jason Credo, Mark Neil Cruz, Lugie Cuyos, Robbie Darang, Franz Diaz, Miguel Johannes Educalani and Martin Enriquez.
Francis Escandor is also joining the draft along with Patrick Feliciano, Aaron Matthew Garcia, Alfren Gayosa, Bill Geolingo, Ahmad Didat Hanapi, Pao Javillonar, Jeff Daniel Jose, Felix Lemetti, Pio Longa, JP Magullano, Germy Mahinay, Michael John Malonzo, Agem Miranda, Derohn Mitchell, Chino Mosqueda, Avan Nava, Toan-Anh Nguyen, Khenn Osicos, Adrian Partosa and Francis Patricio.
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CJ Payawal, David Kenneth Penney, Keith Pido, Jayson Puray, Jielo Razon, Kurt Reyson, Ralph Robin, Ronan Santos, JP Sarao, Abdul Wahad Sawat, Jade Talampas, Xyrus Torres, John Lawrence Uduba, Conner Verdugo, Marko Adonis Villorente and Denzel Wong complete the list.