With the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ and the Philippine Basketball Association’s commitment to flag and country, both organizations have announced the players that will be part of the special Gilas draft, Wednesday evening at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
It was bared that Mac Belo, Mike Tolomia, Roger Pogoy, Russel Escoto, Ed Daquioag, Kevin Ferrer, Jiovani Jalalon, Von Pessumal, Alfonso Gotladera, Arnold Van Opstal, Matthew Wright, Carl Cruz, and Almond Vosotros will be part of the Gilas cadets program.
Except for Vosotros, who is already with PBA club team Blackwater, the 12 players are set to take part in the 2016 PBA Draft set on Sunday, October 30. Filipino-American Matthew Wright was allowed to join the draft even if he had yet to serve his residency with the D-League since he will be part of the National Team.
Club teams are barred from trading any of the players from the “Gilas draft” for two years according to PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa. Moreover, the players will be released from their respective teams two months prior to the home or away game.
“Gilas players will be released two months before the tournament,” PBA chairman Robert Non said.
PBA teams are also required to give one player per team making the pool grow to 24 players per tournament.
“The regular players will be given 15 days to join the team,” Non added.
