Lassiter, Lutz head draft list

MANILA, Philippines - Smart-Gilas stalwarts Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz head the first 10 applicants for the 2011 PBA Rookie Draft which has set Aug. 17 as the deadline for both homegrown and Fil-foreign players to submit their application and other requirements, according to the PBA Commissioner’s Office.

Lassiter and Lutz are key players on the Rajko Toroman-mentored national squad gearing up for the FIBA-Asia men’s championship in Wuhan, China this September where the winner will gain a spot in the 2012 London Olympics.

These two players are expected to go high in the draft. Contesting the No. 1 overall pick in the draft are the Powerade Tigers and Air21 Express.

So far, 10 players have applied for this year’s draft slated Aug. 28 at Robinson’s Place Manila. The other rookie hopefuls are Niño Nabong, Christopher Pestano, Raymond Montaniel, Marc Cagoco, Alvyn Cabonce, Christopher Concepcion, Felimon Fernandez and Marvin Graebel.

The move to have a common deadline gives Fil-foreign applicants, who had to apply by July 29 in the original timetable, three weeks more to complete their requirements.

For this year’s Rookie Draft, however, only Fil-foreign players who have played for the Philippine men’s basketball team and are over the PBA D-League age limit of 26 years old will be allowed to join.

The papers of all the applicants will still have to go through an evaluation process before the Commissioner’s Office comes out with the final list of candidates who will then have to attend the Rookie Camp on Aug. 23-26.