San Beda ace joins PBA Draft

Jake Pascual of NCAA power San Beda became the first high-profile big man to enter the coming PBA Draft when the 6-foot-4 power forward finally declared his intent to turn pro yesterday.

The inclusion of Pascual’s name in the list of candidates is a welcome development for some of the teams, including Rain or Shine, which owns the No. 2 overall pick.

The Elasto Painters said in the past that they would first be looking to tab a big man before going for either Stanley Pringle or Chris Banchero.

Pringle and Banchero are Fil-Americans who had great careers in the Asean Basketball League. Both are point guards and the Elasto Painters have made it no secret that they want a big man to help them this season.

Globalport will pick first and the Batang Pier will most likely go for Pringle, unless reports of management being turned off with what Pringle is asking are true.

The PBA closes submission of application forms for prospective rookies today. Among the big-name amateurs still being awaited are Kevin Alas, Garvo Lanete and Matt Ganuelas.

Alas and Lanete played with the Gilas Pilipinas squad that finished third in the Fiba Asia Cup in China last month.

Ganuelas has been a part of the Gilas Cadet program and played as a national for the first time in the Jones Cup when the Philippines won in Chinese Taipei in 2012.