PBA, SBP to hold another special Gilas draft

Gilas Pilipinas jersey. FIBA BASKETBALL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—There will be another Gilas Draft in the 2021 PBA Rookie selection.

After the PBA’s Thursday Board meeting, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio said that the league gave the federation the advantage of choosing the first players in this year’s Draft pool.

This is the second time that Gilas was allowed to join the PBA Draft via special selection after the 2019 edition saw Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, Matt Nieto, Allyn Bulanadi, and Mike Nieto go to Gilas despite their professional player rights belonging to their respective PBA teams.

Terrafirma, Blackwater, NLEX, Alaska, and Rain or Shine hold the rights to Go, Suerte, Matt, Bulanadi, and Mike, respectively.

This year’s teams that would take part in the special draft are Terrafirma, NorthPort, and NLEX—the three teams that own the first to fourth overall picks.

“I’ve asked Commissioner Willie [Marcial] and the Board to give us a few days to look at the list and revert back to the Commissioner’s Office on the list to add to the Gilas pool,” said Panlilio who’s also the team governor of Meralco.

“We’ll choose from the existing Draft on who’ll qualify for the Gilas pool.”

Though the Road Warriors own the third and fourth overall picks, Marcial said that the league has yet to decide whether they can pick twice in the Gilas Draft.

Panlilio also commended the deep pool for this year’s rookie selection, including the 31 Filipino-foreign players who decided to join the March 14 event.

“This is a very strong draft, the SBP can get a few names from the Draft,” said Panlilio. “Very strong especially the Fil-foreign players.”