More Gilas members in draft

Source MB.COM.PH - MANILA, Philippines — Three stalwarts of Smart-Gilas Pilipinas and two amateur standouts were the latest personalities who made themselves available for the coming PBA Annual Draft at the Robinsons Place Manila.

The names of Andy Mark Barroca, Mac Baracael, and Jason Ballesteros had been included in the list of 20 names so far comprising the selection for the Aug. 28 event – the first official activity of the league for the 2011-12 season.

Barroca and Baracael, former teammates with Far Eastern University, and Ballesteros are currently in New Taipei City as part of the Smart Gilas squad seeing action in the William Jones Cup basketball tournament.

Also adding luster to the Draft are Eric Salamat, a key player in Ateneo’s three straight UAAP championships, and former University of the East star James Martinez.

Prospective rookie applicants – both homegrown and foreign-bred players – have until Aug 18 to submit their respective application and other requirements.

Powerade owns the privilege of selecting first in the Draft after winning the lottery over Air21 and Meralco last Sunday.

Two other members of the national team bound for Wuhan, China next month for the FIBA-Asia Olympic qualifier for the 2012 London Games already submitted their applications earlier, namely, Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz.

For this year, only Fil-foreign players who donned the national colors and are over the PBA D-League age limit of 26 years old are allowed to join the Draft.

Application and papers of all applicants will still be scrutinized before the Commissioner’s Office comes out with the final list of candidates eligible to attend the Rookie Camp set August 23 to 26.

Other fresh applicants include San Sebastian teammates Gilbert Bulawan and John Raymundo, the University of the Visayas pair of Mark Ababon and Ariel Mepana, and Santo Tomas’ Allein Maliksi.

Completing the Draft list are Nino Nabong, Christopher Pestano, Raymond Montaniel, Marc Cagoco, Alvyn Cabonce, Christopher Concepcion, Felimon Fernandez and Marvin Graebel.

After Powerade, Rain or Shine owns the no. 2 pick, followed by Air21, Powerade, and Shopinas – the former Barako Bull franchise now owned by the Lina Group of Companies.