Undrafted rookies could be lucky free agents

At least 25 rookies will not be picked in the PBA draft at Market! Market! in the Bonifacio Global City tomorrow but the prospect of free agency isn’t as grim as it seems.

As of yesterday, it still wasn’t certain how many in the rookie pool of 45 will be delisted because of incomplete documents. Assuming 45 remain in the eligible roster and no team passes in the two draft rounds, 20 rookies will be selected, leaving 25 out in the cold.

The undrafted 25 rookies automatically become free agents, meaning they may try out for any team of their choice. The 20 draftees are bound to negotiate with the teams that picked them. A drafting team has five working days to tender an offer for a player. If no offer is made within the stipulated period, the draftee becomes a free agent.

The minimum monthly salary for a rookie is P30,000 and the maximum is P150,000 in the first year. A rookie may be signed to a short-term contract (a month or a conference) or as long as three years. The escalation limit in a multi-year contract is 50 percent annually.

Last year, only 17 of 44 rookie applicants were drafted as teams passed on the last three slots. All the draftees, except R. J. Masbang, got to play in the PBA. Undrafted rookies who were later signed as free agents were Reed Juntilla (Red Bull), Chris Baluyot (Air21), Francis Barcellano (Talk ‘N’ Text) and J. R. Aquino (Barangay Ginebra).

In 2006, six of the 27 undrafted rookies wound up playing in the PBA. They were Jonathan Aldave (Talk ‘N’ Text), Ronnie Bughao (Sta. Lucia Realty), Philip Butel (Sta. Lucia Realty), Don Dulay (Welcoat), Chico Lanete (Purefoods) and Robert Sanz (Purefoods). The 20 drafted players, except Ollan Omiping, suited up in the PBA.

“Even if you’re not drafted, it doesn’t mean you won’t be able to play in the PBA,” said a player agent. “Sometimes, it’s better if you’re a free agent because you’re not restricted to negotiate with just one team.”

This year’s draft is a mix of newcomers, veterans, Fil-Ams and college standouts. The youngest is 6-6 Beau Belga, 21, of Philippine Christian University. The shortest is 5-7 T. Y. Tang of La Salle while Rob Reyes of Flagler College, Mark Cuevas of LA Community College, Angelus Raymundo of San Beda Alabang, Lawrence Bonus of St. Francis of Assisi, Christian Cabatu of St. Benilde, Ricky Natividad of PSBA and Belga are the tallest at 6-6.

St. Benilde and the University of the East are contributing four rookies each. The Blazers are Cabatu, Juna Luis Abad, Jan Coching and Unik Reyes. The Warriors are Mark Borboran, Kelvin Gregorio, Bonbon Custodio and Earn Saguindel.  PCU cagers are Belga, Jason Castro and Lei Mar Navarro.

From La Salle are Tang and Pocholo Villanueva.

Struck out of the pool for failing to show up at the recent two-day rookie camp were 6-7 Diomar Facun of the University of Manila and 31-year-old Michael Olino of Rizal Tech.

Rookies with US collegiate credentials include Gabe Norwood of George Mason, Jared Dillinger of the University of Hawaii, Reyes, Kevin Dalafu of Vanguard University, Solomon Mercado of Biola University, Michael Dizon of Florida College and Eian Yu of UCLA.

Welcoat owns the first overall pick and will likely choose Norwood who planes in from State College, Pennsylvania, tomorrow morning. Norwood has played twice for the Philippine team in international competitions and is fresh from leading Hapee to the PBL finals.