Lyceum’s Perez joins rookie list; Standhardinger named week’s best

Seven Filipinos with foreign lineage, including the year’s potential top pick, already applied for the PBA Rookie Draft set on Dec. 16.

Lyceum star CJ Perez leads the rookie prospects with roots abroad who signified their intention to join the league’s first official function ushering its 44th season.

Perez, the NCAA Season 93 MVP, is joined by Matthew Salem, Carlos Isit, Paul Varilla, Robbie Manalang, Trevis Jackson, and John Ragasa. Isit, Manalang, Salem, and Varilla played either in the UAAP and NCAA.

Deadline of draft application for Filipino players who either have foreign lineage or were born or raised abroad ended on Oct. 26. Local players, meanwhile, can apply until Dec. 3.

This early, Perez, nicknamed “Baby Beast,” is already being mentioned as a potential No. 1 pick along with fellow stalwarts Ray Parks Jr. and Robert Bolick.

The documents and eligibility of Perez and the rest of the players with foreign roots will still be subject for review, with the final list of those who qualified to be released on Dec. 3.

The official list of rookie applicants will be known on Dec. 14, two days before the draft.

The traditional Draft Combine, where aspirants get to show their individual skills, is set Dec. 12 and 13.

Meanwhile, rookie Christian Standhardinger captured his second Cignal-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week award for the 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup following another monster effort that helped San Miguel Beer clinch a playoff berth.

The 6-foot-8 Standhardinger has been a picture of consistency for the Beermen, who won back-to-back games this past week to stretch their winning run to four en route to sealing a playoff spot.

The Beermen currently occupy the sixth spot in the standings with their 6-4 card, behind Barangay Ginebra’s 8-2 record, Magnolia (8-3), Alaska (8-3) and Phoenix and Blackwater who share 7-3 records.

Standhardinger, last year’s top overall rookie pick, averaged 21.5 points, 20 rebounds and 2.5 assists in San Miguel’s victories over NorthPort and Rain or Shine.