Sedrick Barefield won’t be taking part in the PBA Season 49 Draft Combine.
The potential top pick is still in the States although he had informed the league ahead of time that he will miss the two-day event at the Ynares Sports Arena.
Ditto with the La Salle tandem of Ben Phillips and Evan Nelle.
Phillips is also in the US as he is working with his company while Nelle is in California training with Jimmy Alapag.
Barefield is giving the PBA another shot after his supposed entry in 2022 failed to push through as he couldn’t obtain a physical copy of his Philippine passport.
The 27-year-old is one of two prospects eyed to be chosen at no. 1 in the Draft on July 14 in Glorietta, the other being former Gilas wing Justine Baltazar.
Barefield and Baltazar were supposed to banner the 2022 class but the latter pulled out at the last minute to sign with Hiroshima in the B.League.
Now, the former Green Archer, like the ex-NBA G-League veteran, is trying his luck in the PBA again after a stint with Pampanga in the MPBL.
Baltazar is present on Day 1, leading the 58 hopefuls in attendance as of this posting.
Other notable names in the Combine thus far are Mark Nonoy, Jonnel Policarpio, Brandon Ramirez, Xyrus Torres, Kai Ballungay, and CJ Cansino.
Expected to arrive later in the day, meanwhile, are the Strong Group trio of RJ Abarrientos, Dave Ildefonso, and Caelan Tiongson. The Jones Cup reps are currently in a tuneup with Magnolia as of publishing.
