The PBA Season 50 Rookie Draft is starting to welcome the marquee names who are expected to headline the present and future of local hoops.
Juan Gomez de Liaño, Will Gozum, Jason Brickman, Dalph Panopio, and other prospects have finally listed their names to join the annual draft proceedings on September 7.
According to a source, the 6-foot-1 Gomez de Liaño — a former University of the Philippines star and brother of Magnolia Hotshots forward Javi Gomez de Liaño — has officially applied for the draft after previously hinting at his desire to do so.
“I’ve been thinking about it, my family and I, whether that may be the best option for me,” the UAAP Season 80 Rookie of the Year previously said when asked about joining the PBA.
“It has always been a dream of mine,” he added. “Growing up here, I was always watching the PBA since I was a kid.”
Also among the notable draftees, according to a list from the PBA, is the 6-foot-5 Gozum from De La Salle-College of St. Benilde.
Gozum, who also starred in the MPBL with Quezon, is the NCAA Season 98 Most Valuable Player. He led the Blazers to the finals in that same season, only falling short in Game 3 to Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
Aside from Gozum, former US NCAA assists leader, the 33-year-old Brickman, has also joined the draft. He boasts an extensive resume which saw him play for Long Island University in NCAA Division I, the San Miguel Alab Pilipinas in the ABL, and Abra in the MPBL.
Brickman and Gozum officially submitted their application papers at the league office on Tuesday as the two form part of the 29 rookie hopefuls so far who make up the draft list.
His fellow NCAA D1 product Dalph Panopio also confirmed his desire to officially join the draft to ABS-CBN News on Tuesday.
Aside from the quartet, Gozum's fellow former Blazers Mark Sangco and Robi Nayve, and his Quezon Huskers teammate LJay Gonzales from Far Eastern University have also thrown their hats into the draft.
Also there are Christian Manaytay of University of Santo Tomas, the Ateneo de Manila University duo of Chris Koon and Sean Quitevis, Letran’s Kobe Monje, Jun Roque, Deo Cuajao, Kint Ariar, Mark Omega, Ira Bataller, and Kyle Tolentino, Gerard Wilson and Ethan Galang of University of the East, and Adamson University’s Joshua Yerro.
The rest of the applicants so far include Jan Marc Almendras, Mario Barasi, Jay-R Basallote, Reggs Gabat, Jonathan Gesalem, Vince Gomez, Raphael Mallari, John Manalang, Ram Mesqueriola, Chris Miller, Kobe Arevalo Pableo, Marc Poole, Lian Morgan Ramiro, John Edcel Rojas, Joshua Yerro, and Romeo Yu.
A Draft Combine will be held involving all rookie applicants from September 4-5 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
