The PBA is giving Fil-foreigners more leeway to submit the necessary documents to complete their application for March’s Rookie Draft.
Commissioner Willie Marcial said that the league has extended the deadline of submission for the aforementioned aspirants until March 5.
“Pinayagan ng board hanggang March 5 ‘yung mga Fil-Ams to submit their papers,” he said Thursday in a Zoom conference, Thursday after the league’s board meeting in the PBA office in Libis, Quezon City.
Marcial said that 18 of the 31 Fil-fors have yet to pass the necessary papers, particularly the DOJ Recognition and Bureau of Immigration Affirmation.
Three of those are the San Miguel Alab Pilipinas trio of Jason Brickman, Jeremiah Grey, and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.
Their agent, Charlie Dy, revealed in an online interview a few weeks ago that they may not beat the deadline. The trio have found it hard to book flights to the country due to the COVID-19 situation in the United States.
Another one is Taylor Statham, who had several missing documents as well.
But hope springs eternal, as they say, and this extension of the deadline should bode well for them and their fellow applicants.
Marcial said that he heard and read about the plight of the Fil-foreign cagers regarding their paperwork. He then made his suggestion to the board to give them more time which, fortunately, got the nod.
“May nababalitaan ako na nasa US, hindi makapunta. Naririnig ko lang at nababasa ko, so nag-decide ako na i-suggest sa governors,” said the amiable executive.
“So in-extend natin hanggang March 5.”
