Another potential top pick will miss the 2022 PBA Rookie Draft this Sunday.
The league was not able to receive a copy of Sedrick Barefield’s passport on Friday, resulting in his removal from the draft list.
According to FilAm Nation Select, the passport has already been transmitted by the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila. The DFA has yet to print Barefield’s passport.
However, the consulate’s operations are suspended from May 10-13 due to a COVID-19 outbreak among its personnel, making it also impossible to get certification.
Photo from Fil-Am Nation
“The PBA is asking for a letter from the consulate but it’s closed,” said FilAm Nation founder Cris Gopez.
“We have the receipt and the birth certificate.”
However, a copy of a Philippine passport is a must for Filipino-foreigners wanting to enter the draft.
The league had already removed the Department of Justice affirmation and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) certification requiremets as early as September of last year.
Barefield had been pegged as a potential top pick for the draft as he has experience playing in the G League.
Yesterday, Justine Baltazar withdrew from the draft.
