Norwood beats draft deadline

Fil-Am player Gabe Norwood, through his agent Mark Chan, filed his application for the 2008 PBA Rookie Draft yesterday, without assurance he would be able to secure required documents.

Norwood beat the deadline for application among Fil-foreign players with his agent submitting only his Philippine passport and an immigration certificate showing the player is not in the bureau’s blacklist and watch list records.

The versatile 6-foot-5 player needed only the Philippine passport as his clearance to play for the RP team in the Fiba-Asia Olympic qualifier in Tokushima, Japan last year.

To be able to join the PBA draft pool, Norwood needs to back up his claim to Filipino citizenship with immigration certification and Department of Justice clearance.

The Commissioner’s Office said Solomon Mercado and Robert Reyes also have yet to complete requirements that will make them eligible for the draft exercise set Aug. 31 in Market, Market at the Fort in Taguig.

Welcoat, which will likely gain the top pick, is looking to enlist either Jared Dillinger or Mercado.– Nelson Beltran