PBA D-League to begin accepting applications for Rookie Draft

MANILA, Philippines – With the opening of its 2014 Season exactly just two months away, the PBA Developmental League will now start to accept applications on August 27 for its first ever Rookie Draft.

The Draft is scheduled on September 19 aiming to even the playing field. The new season opens October 24 at the Ynares Sports Arena.

“Team representatives were briefed on the rules and mechanics of the Draft as well as other league policies and new playing rules,” said PBA director for operations Rickie Santos during a meeting with team managers last Friday at the PBA Office.

Santos added that the league’s founding members Café France, Cebuana Lhuillier, Boracay Rum, Big Chill, reigning Foundation Cup champion Blackwater Sports and perennial powerhouse NLEX will have more edge in the lottery. Also in the Draft are Cagayan Valley, Jumbo Plastic and Hog’s Breath.

A player included in the list of ‘varsity players’ by a ‘school-based team’ has the option to not join the Draft.

But he loses his right to play the moment the ‘school-based team’ changed its status anytime during the tournament. A team should have at least six ‘varsity players’ from a given school in its roster to be classified as ‘school-based’ team.

A player who fails to get drafted or was drafted but was not given the required Tender Offer within five days after the Draft, automatically becomes a free agent and can sign up with any team.

The league continues to expand as 14 team representatives attended the meeting and a couple more had shown interest in joining the 2014 Season. Teams have until August 29 to submit their letter of intent to join.