MANILA, Philippines—The depth of the 2008 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) rookie draft class is starting to shape up following the affirmation of Gabe Norwood’s Filipino citizenship and the entry of reigning NCAA Most Valuable Player Kelvin de la Peña and San Beda skipper Pong Escobal.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said on Wednesday that Norwood—the sensational Filipino-American who starred for the national team—could be considered a Filipino, as his mother Tiffiney Sainte Hardy was a minor when she gave birth to him in North Carolina, the Department of Justice told INQUIRER.net.

De la Peña, who averaged 15.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists for Mapua to capture the top plum in 2007, submitted his application on Tuesday, while Escobal filed his papers last week, the PBA office said Friday.

Despite these developments, coaches gave varying opinions on this year’s freshman pool that also includes three-time PBL Most Valuable Player Jason Castro, Filipino-Americans Solomon Mercado and Jared Dillinger, University of the East’s Mark Borboran and De La Salle University’s TY Tang.

Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao thinks that if declared eligible by the PBA board, the slam-dunking 6-foot-5 Norwood can be the consensus No. 1 pick for the rookie draft set on Aug. 31 at Market! Market! mall in Taguig City.

Sta. Lucia Realty mentor Boyet Fernandez, however, thinks otherwise.

“As I look at the list of draftees, there are four players who can be the No. 1 pick depending on the need of the team,” said Fernandez.

Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes, who coached Norwood in the national team, said there is no doubt in his mind the former George Mason star in the US NCAA will go No. 1.

“He’s the best all-around athlete and at 6-foot-5, he will be a tough match-up for any guard in the PBA,” said Reyes.

Norwood, however, has yet to submit his affirmation documents to the PBA.

Only Mercado, a former Philippine Basketball League Finals MVP, and San Mig Coffee’s Kevin Dalafu have completed the requirements for foreign players with Filipino roots, the PBA office said.

The PBA has extended the deadline for foreign hopefuls. Applicants should submit copies of their birth certificate by Aug. 15, immigration and justice department documents on Aug. 22, and all original papers on Aug. 29.