PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial has sent out a formal request to the UAAP, allowing their players to apply for the PBA Rookie Draft despite the collegiate league going through midseason.
Draft Results Won’t Intervene with how Players and Teams Perform
Commissioner Marcial reiterated that whatever the PBA Rookie Draft results would be, it shouldn’t alter how UAAP players should perform the Season 88 begins.
“Yung mga player na may kontrata pa hanggang December, regardless kung saang liga sila naglalaro, pinapayagan namin mag-apply,” said Marcial.
PBA’s 50th Season Draft is scheduled on September 7, as the Philippine Cup would begin on October 5.
The UAAP Season 88 begins on September 19 and will end in the early parts of December 2025.
“Hinihintay pa namin ang sagot ng UAAP. Sinulatan na namin sila.” said Commissioner Marcial via phone call in a story from a local sports news outlet.
The PBA sent a letter to UAAP Executive Director Rebo Saguisag earlier this week.
He then added that if such a request gets granted, it “will encourage players to play their utmost in all their UAAP games knowing that their popularity and following in the UAAP will transfer to and benefit the PBA.”
Considering that in the previous years, UAAP players had to sit out for almost a year after playing in December since the PBA draft happens either in August or Ber Months. This then forces them to play in barangay leagues, MPBL or better yet go overseas in the KBL of South Korea or the B League of Japan.
UAAP Stars as Top Rookie Prospects
If this goes through, there are a lot of UAAP standouts that are in the watch list of PBA teams in hopes of altering the future of their franchise.
Players like: Dela Salle’s Mike Phillips, UST guard Forthsky Padrigao and Nic Cabanero, UP Maroons Gerry Abadiano and Terrence Forthea, UE’s John Abate, and Adamson Cedric Manzano.
In the other collegiate league, the NCAA allows its players to enter the PBA draft in the middle of their season.
Willie Marcial then emphasized how the league cares for the future of basketball stars in the Philippines.
“The PBA and its teams are open to extending to UAAP draftees the support that they will need for them to compete at the highest level in the UAAP.”
