Another Fil-Am targets NBA D-League slot

MANILA, Philippines — Another Filipino is aiming to make history in the NBA Developmental League.

Filipino-American Avery Scharer, a 6-foot-2 point guard out of Shoreline Community College in Washington, has applied for the NBA D-League Draft set on Saturday (7 a.m., Manila time) along with former Talk ‘N Text and Smart Gilas forward Japeth Aguilar.

If he fails to make it, the 185-pound Scharer said he would next try his luck in the Philippine Basketball Association or the Asean Basketball League, according to the Asian Journal, a Filipino community daily based in the United States.

“Other than going to the NBA, the PBA would be a dream,” said Scharer, whose mother hails from Bauang, La Union. “I’d like to go back and play in the motherland. I think I could do so much there. I’m a winner, I got the heart and drive to win. I just want to go out there and win. I would love that opportunity.”

Scharer, 24, flaunted his skills during an open tryout facilitated by D-League ballclub Iowa Energy over the weekend.

The 6-foot-9 Aguilar, who is also aiming to become the first Filipino to be drafted in the NBA D-League, wasn’t able to show his stuff in front of the Energy coaching staff after suffering a hamstring injury.

Third in assists in the previous US collegiate season, Scharer applied in the recent NBA Draft but didn’t get through.

The NBA D-League Draft will take place via teleconference from the league’s New York headquarters.

Aguilar had earlier attended workouts in NBA and NBA D-League teams.