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The pool for the upcoming PBA Rookie Draft got much deeper after numerous big names submitted their formal applications at the PBA office on Friday afternoon.
Four of the best professional 3×3 players in the country, namely Alvin Pasaol, Troy Rike, Santi Santillan and Franky Johnson, have officially applied, agent Marvin Espíritu de Espiritu Manotoc Basketball Management confirmed to ESPN5.com.
All four are also among the players eligible for the upcoming FIBA 3×3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament to be held in Graz, Austria in May.
Pasaol, a 6’4 “forward who dressed for the UE Red Warriors at UAAP, is known for his scoring volume, having lost 49 points to La Salle in 2017. He also dressed Marinerong Pilipino and Letran in the D- On the other hand, 6’8 “Rike played four years in NCAA Division 1 Wake Forest in North Carolina before playing one year with the NU Bulldogs.
Santillán, for his part, seeks to become the next great Cebuano player, after having made his presence felt with La Salle and Marinerong Pilipino. Johnson is a 6’2 “scorer who was in AMA, Marinerong Pilipino and Gamboa Coffee Mix.
Joining the quartet is Fil-Am jumper Nick Demusis, a 6’4 “forward. He played 19 games for the MPBL’s Bacoor City Strikers, scoring averages of 8.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists.
Bacoor was able to finish second in the South Division of the league, but was eliminated in the semifinals by Basilan.
The 29-year-old played NCAA Division III basketball, graduating from Whittier College in 2015. He averaged 18.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his senior season.
Also joining Friday’s applications were former DLSU green goalkeepers Josh Torralba and Tyrus Hill, former Blue Eagle Anton Asistio and former UE student Jed Mendoza.
San Sebastian guard RK Ilagan approved his application Wednesday, resigning from his senior year in the NCAA.
The deadline for submitting applications for Fil-foreigners applicant projects and additional jobs is January 27, while the annual screening will take place online on March 14.
