PBA expansion teams given more draft rights

MANILA, Philippines – The PBA board has agreed to expand the concessions given to NLEX, Blackwater Sports and Team KIA by freeing more active players and allotting more draft rights to the three ball clubs that are joining the pro league next season.

The league is holding an expansion draft before the end of July where the 10 active teams are to make excessive players available for recruitment by the three expansion teams.

By next season, teams will be allowed to play only 12 players plus two reserves. The excess will be free for picking by NLEX, Blackwater Sports and Team KIA.

The board has also increased the draft rights of the expansion ball clubs, giving them the last three picks in the first round, the first three selections in the second round, all draft picks from the third round onwards.

Denied was the request of NLEX for them to be allowed to directly elevate five NLEX players in the D-League to their pro team.

Team KIA, meanwhile, didn’t make a formal notice on its reported wish to have boxing star Manny Pacquiao in its lineup.

“No official word,” said Salud, adding Pacquiao would be a welcome addition but, if ever, would have to go through the process being followed by any rookie player.

The 2014-15 PBA season opens Oct. 19 playing four double-headers in a week (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays) plus road games on Saturdays.

The third conference is beginning not later than May 24 and ending July 9 or earlier, thus, increasing the training period of World Cup-bound Gilas Pilipinas.

It’s a compact tourney playing double-headers five days in a week – Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

“Seven of those 10 games will be aired live on TV5. The first games on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays will be replayed late night on TV5 but will be shown live on AksyonTV,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud.