Gilas' Lassiter Lutz joins 2011 PBA rookie draft

Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz will don the national colors for the last time in the coming FIBA-Asian men's basketball championship after both foreign-bred stalwarts of the Pilipinas-Smart Gilas team decided to join next month's Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft. Both players made known their intention of joining the August 28 event, the league's first ever official activity for the 2011-2012 season, at the Robinson's Place in Manila. The two are so far the biggest names to make themselves available for the annual Rookie Draft. The 22-year-old Lutz saw action for Brewster Academy in the U.S., while Lassiter, 20, studied at San Francisco City College. The PBA Commissioner's Office has set an August 18 deadline for both homegrown and Filipino-foreign players to submit their applications and other requirements. Lassiter and Lutz, both expected to be first round picks, are vital cogs in Gilas' bid of earning an Olympic berth after more than four decades of absence. The FIBA-Asia cagefest, set in Wuha, China from September 15 to 25, serves as the region's qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics. Aside from the two national players, eight others have likewise submitted their names for inclusion in the 2011 Draft that includes Letran's Alvin Cabonte, JRU's Mark Cagoco, Christopher Pestanio, Raymond Montaniel, Christopher Concepcion and Filimon Fernandez. The annual Rookie Camp involving all Draft applicants will be on August 23 to 26. Air21 and Powerade are contesting the top overall pick for this year's Draft, to be determined through a lottery. The loser in the lottery automatically choses No. 2, with Meralco owning the No. 3 pick. The Nos. 4-10 picks will be decided after the semi-finals of the ongoing Governors' Cup. - JVP, GMA News