Adornado’s son joins D-League rookie draft

The son of a three-time PBA Most Valuable Player has joined the growing list of hopefuls in the PBA D-League Rookie Draft on Sept. 19.

Joma Adornado, son of former pro star William (Bogs) Adornado, signed up for the developmental league’s inaugural draft where Filipino-Italian guard Chris Banchero has been installed as the prospective top pick.

Adornado, a 6-foot-1 guard who plays for Ateneo’s Team B, will try his luck along with new applicants Filipino-Australian Mark Franco, Robert Angelo Packing (Far Eastern University-Team B), Alejandro Adovas (STI), Michael Camposagrado (Divine World College of Abra) and Krist Edward Pao (University of Cebu).

Café France will pick first  followed by Cebuana Lhuillier, Boracay Rum, Big Chill, Blackwater Sports, NLEX, Cagayan Valley, Hog’s Breath and Jumbo Plastic.

The order of selection for the new teams in the fourth season, which will fire off on Oct. 24 at Ynares Sports Arena, will be determined by lottery.

Banchero, who won the Finals MVP with San Miguel Beer in the Asean Basketball League (ABL) recently, joined the early hopefuls last week in a bid to fulfill a requirement before he jumps to the PBA next year.

The pro league requires foreign players with Filipino roots aged 25 and below to play at least two conferences in the tournament.

Other early applicants were Jerrold Nielsen Asaytono, son of former PBA star Nelson Asaytono, Filipino-Australian Hibelito Timothy, Filipino-Americans Alexander Austria and Medel Bencito, Mark Lopez, Rodan Reducto, Kenneth Agustin, Marlon Angeles and Anthony Fran.