Norwood, Dillinger cleared for PBA draft

The Justice Department ruling, in the end, turned out substantial enough for Fil-Am hotshot Gabe Norwood to be eligible for the 2008 PBA Rookie Draft slated tomorrow at the Market! Market! Place in Taguig.

The PBA cleared Norwood and Jared Dillinger for the draft exercise yesterday, pegging at 45 the complete list of players who made the draft pool.

Failing to make the list were Chris Viardo and Charles Waters.

Dillinger, a 6-foot-5 guard out of the University of Hawaii, was able to complete the required documents at the 11th hour.

Norwood no longer needed to satisfy the requirements as the league ruled that a letter of Justice Sec. Raul Gonzalez to the Department of Foreign Affairs declaring the player a Filipino on the basis of his mother’s citizenship was in substantial compliance with league requirements.

“Norwood, through his agent Mark Chan, was told he’s no longer covered by the proceedings (for BI affirmation and DOJ confirmation) because the DOJ secretary has written the Foreign Affairs Department of his ruling,” said PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios.

“We’ve consulted our legal counsel (Melvin Mendoza), and he said it’s right. It would be redundant if he’s subjected to the proceedings,” Barrios added.

Gonzalez made his ruling on the case of Norwood in a letter dated July 21, 2007, paving the way for the issuance of Philippine passport to the former George Mason U stalwart. With the RP passport, Norwood was able to play later on in the Tokushima FIBA-Asia men’s championship and the Nakhon Ratchasima SEA Games last year.

“Having been born on Feb. 9, 1985, of a Filipino mother makes Gabriel Daniel Norwood a Filipino citizen under Sec.1 (2) of Article III of the 1973 Constitution which declares as citizens of the Philippines ‘those whose fathers and mothers are citizens of the Philippines,’ at the time of their birth. As such, he should have the right to be issued a Philippine passport in accordance with Sec. 5 of R.A. No.8239,” Gonzalez wrote DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo, who asked for his opinion when Norwood applied for a Philippine passport.

“Since the DOJ contends that Norwood no longer needs the documents we required him to submit, it’s illogical on our part to insist on it,” Barrios said.

The other six Fil-foreign applicants were required to submit additional supporting documents but Norwood was given some concessions for being a member of the PBA-formed Philippine national team that represented the country in the Tokushima joust.

Rain or Shine (formerly Welcoat) co-team owners Raymund Yu and Terry Que said they would definitely make Norwood the No. 1 choice.

Solomon Mercado, another Fil-Am, and Jayson Castro are the other highly touted players in this year’s draft pool.

Other noted talents include Jeff Chan, Jonathan Fernandez, Beau Belga, Rob Reyes, TY Tang, Mark Borboran, Kelvin Gregorio, Cholo Villanueva, NCAA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Kelvin dela Peña, Kelvin Delafu, Pong Escobal, Larry Rodriguez, Patrick Cabahug, Christian Espiritu, and Lawrence Bonus.

Completing the 45-man list are Ryan Regalado, Mark Anthony Cuevas, Andrew Catigan, Diomar Facum, Michael Dizon, Ismael Junio, Christian Reyes, Angelus Raymundo, Eian Yu, Dennis Concha, Frankly Nailon, Michael Gonzales, Mark Yee, Rene Cunanan, Eder Saldua, Nestor David, Earn Saguindel, Nizar Kiram, Ferdinand Melocoton, Juan Luis Abad, Christian Cabatu, Nathaniel Cruz, Lei Mar Navarro, Jan Coching, Michael Olino, Chito Jaime and Ricky Natividad.