Christian Standhardinger, Kiefer Ravena headline 2017 PBA Draft aspirants

Forty-four aspirants beat the Thursday deadline for the 2017 PBA Draft that is set to be held on Sunday, October 29, at Robinson’s Place Manila.

Headlining the class is Filipino-German Christian Standhardinger. The 28-year-old big man turned heads during his brief stint in Gilas Pilipinas, joining the national team in both its campaign in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup and the 2017 Southeast Asian Games.

However, the red flag in drafting him is that he will only be available after the 2017-18 ABL Season, as he is currently signed to the Hong Kong Long Lions.

Joining Standhardinger at the top of most mock drafts are Kiefer Ravena and Jeron Teng. Both players declared their intention to enter the draft last Monday.

Raymar Jose and Jett Manuel, both of whom suited up for Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas in the 2017 FIBA Asia Champions Cup, also submitted their intent to join the draft, where the Kia Picanto own the top pick.

From the NCAA, Davon Potts and Dan Sara of San Beda; Rey Nambatac, Felix Apreku, and Jom Sollano of Letran; Sidney Onwubere of EAC; Ervin Grospe of JRU; Lervin Flores and Zach Nicholls of Arellano; Gab Dagangon of Perpetual; and Wilson Baltazar, Joseph Gabayni, and Jebb Bulawan of Lyceum also joined the draft.

For the UAAP, the troika of Jason Perkins, Julian Sargent, and Thomas Torres of La Salle join Teng.

Jose’s FEU teammate Monbert Arong and schoolmate Arvie Bringas joined the draft as well, together with Manuel’s batchmate in UP Dave Moralde.

NU’s Kyle Neypes; Ateneo’s Chris de Chavez and Gwynne Capacio; UE’s Renz Palma, Ebrahim Enguio, and JR Sumido; and Adamson’s Airo Nalos and Jian Abrigo round up the players that played in the 80-year-old league.

Mac Tallo of Racal Motors/SWU; JK Casino of Café France/CEU; Robbie Herndon of Batangas; Andreas Cahilig of Cignal; Elmer Cabahug of Flying V; Jon Gabriel of Marinerong Pilipinas; Jayson Grimaldo of Racal Motors/St. Clare; Jerome Ortega of AMA Online Education; and Michael Juico of Wangs complete the D-League standouts.

Unknowns Jeremiah Dela Peña and Christian Geronimo complete the class.

All 44 players will have to go through the Rookie Draft Combine before the PBA Commissioner’s Office makes the final draft pool.