FILE PHOTO –PBA Draft Combine.
MANILA, Philippines—PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said it is likely that the 2022 Rookie Draft will be pushed back to a later date.
The draft which was originally set in March, is now targeted for late April at the earliest.
“With what’s happening right now, if we’re going to start first week or last week of February, the conference could reach until the second week of April,” said Marcial in Filipino during the PSA Forum.
“So we will have to make adjustments. The draft could happen last week of April or first week of May.”
The season-ending Governor’s Cup remains on hold after the PBA suspended its games indefinitely due to the surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.
Games haven’t been played since December 26.
A slew of Fil-foreigners led by Jason Brickman are expected to lead this year’s rookie class.
Brickman along with Taylor Statham, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Jeremiah Gray declared for the PBA draft last year but failed to submit the necessary documents before the deadline.
The PBA, however, has eased up on its requirements for a Fil-foreign aspirant, who only needs to have Filipino blood and a Philippine passport to become eligible for the draft.