Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio confirmed that there will be a special Gilas round in this year’s PBA Rookie Draft.
“We’ll have a Gilas draft this year,” said the amiable executive in a Zoom conference moments after the league’s board meeting Thursday.
This will be the third time in five years that the league will hold a special round. The first was in 2016 under the term of Commissioner Chito Narvasa.
The last Gilas draft occurred during the 2019 proceedings, with Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, Matt Nieto, Allyn Bulanadi, and Mike Nieto selected.
Panlilio said that the SBP has yet to determine which players will it pick for the national in this year’s selection process, happening virtually.
Projected inclusions are Calvin Oftana and William Navarro, players who have suited up for Gilas in the last FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers window.
The federation will have itself a wealth of players to choose from, as a record 97 players applied for the draft. SBP will still screen these applications, though.
“This is a strong draft,” Panlilio said.
