MANILA, Philippines?Players tapped by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to join the national team will have to forget making the jump to the Philippine Basketball Association for some time.

SBP executive director Noli Eala said the final 18 members of the national pool would sign a three-year contract with the SBP to keep the lineup intact in the run-up to the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championship.

Eala said the contract should prevent the players from joining the pro league when their collegiate careers are over.

?Everybody will be presented with good packages,? said Eala, stressing that each player?s contract would depend on his market value.

?They can play locally and internationally and, at the same time, get paid professionally.?

The top pay for a PBA rookie is P150,000.

Eala said that players qualified to apply in the coming PBA Rookie Draft would get a higher compensation compared to those who are still playing for their schools in the collegiate leagues.

A case in point is former De La Salle University standout JV Casio, a guaranteed first-rounder in the PBA Draft.

?We will present an offer (equivalent) to what he?s supposed to get in the PBA,? said Eala.

Aside from Casio, Ateneo de Manila University?s Chris Tiu is expected to get the same deal while reigning UAAP MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini of Ateneo, La Salle?s Rico Maeirhoffer and Peejay Barua, Ogie Menor of San Beda College, Far Eastern University?s Mark Barroca, Mac Baracael and JR Cawaling, among others, would have to finish their collegiate eligibility to secure a better package.

Other players in the 25-man developmental pool handpicked by SBP national team project director Rajko Toroman are Dylan Ababou and Jervy Cruz University of Santo Tomas, Martin Reyes of and Magi Sison of University of the Philippines, Ateneo?s Nonoy Baclao and Ryan Buenafe, University of the East?s Paul Lee and Marcy Arellano, RJ Jazul of Letran College and big men Rico Fajardo, Terrel Theopile and Philip Paredes.

?We are asking them to consider staying with the RP team for a while,? said Eala. ?This is an alternate path to the PBA because their stint in the RP team will make them a well-rounded player.?

Eala said the final 18 would be finalized after the developmental pool goes to Serbia and the United States in summer for tune-up games and training stints.

The players to be chosen will see action in the Southeast Asian Games in Laos at the end of the year, the 2010 Asian Games and 2011 FIBA-Asia Championship, the qualifying tournament for the 2012 London Olympics.

Eala said a one-year contract extension would be granted once the players make it to the Olympics.