Norwood given green light to join PBA draft

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Friday took a 180-degree stance on Gabe Norwood, granting the Filipino-American special consideration for him to be able to join the PBA Annual Rookie Draft Sunday at the Market! Market! Activity Center in Taguig City. Norwood failed to submit his Department of Justice (DoJ) and Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) affirmation papers in Friday’s deadline, but nevertheless will undeniably land as the No. 1 pick by a relieved Rain or Shine ball club. In the end, the PBA said that the letter of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DoF) last year is enough to prove Norwood’s Filipino citizenship, a record PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios said before does not stand a chance on its own as a legal requirement. Instead, Barrios now recognizes the letter, saying: “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." Gonzales’ to the DFA states: “Having been born on Ferbruary 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." A total of 45 applicants will now try their luck of becoming pros in a field not necessarily that deep compared to previous draft procedures. With this development, Rain or Shine – formerly Welcoat – will grab the opportunity to snare Norwood, the many-time national team player who played a key role in the Philippines’ campaign in the FIBA Asia Qualifying Tournament in Tokushima, Japan last year. Talk ‘N Text owns the No. 2 pick and will likely choose Jared Dillinger, who also was announced eligible for the draft after submitting his DoJ affirmation papers before Friday’s 12noon deadline. San Miguel Beer will pick third, a spot it got from Air21 when it traded Gabby Espinas. The Phone Pals will again choose at No. 4 followed by the Alaska Aces with the fifth pick. The Express, runners-up in the recent Fiesta Cup, then pick sixth with Purefoods next in line. The Beermen once more gets to choose at eighth with Red Bull picking ninth. Sta. Lucia Realty, which won the Philippine Cup in the season just ended, chooses last in the first round. Among the field, also expected to be picked in the first round are burly guard Solomon Mercado and former Philippine Basketball League most valuable player Jason Castro. – GMANews.TV