PBA now accepting applications for '07 Draft

The Philippine Basketball Associaton (PBA) is now accepting applications for the 2007 Draft. Players seeking to apply have until July 20 to complete the necessary requirements needed to become eligible in the annual activity for prospective rookie players, according to the league Wednesday. Applicants must be 23-years of age by Draft day, a college graduate, a high school graduate or would have at least graduated from secondary level four years preceding this year's Draft. Aspirants are also required to submit an NSO (National Statistics Office) birth certificate, diploma in case the player is below 23-years-old and 2x2 ID pictures. The annual Draft is set on August 14 at the Market Market Place in Taguig. The reigning Most Valuable Players of the UAAP and NCAA, Ken Bono and Jayson Castro, are among the talents eligible to apply alongside Harbour Centre's JC Intal, Ryan Arana and Beau Belga, Toyota Balintawak's Marvin Cruz, Cebuana Lhuillier's Doug Kramer, Henkel Sista's Samigue Eman and JR Quinahan of Burger King. For foreign-bred players wishing to apply, the PBA Commissioner's Office has set an early June 29 deadline to complete their required papers. Among the documents Fil-foreign hopefuls must submit include certificate of recognition from the Bureau of Immigration (BI), affirmation from the Department of Justice (DoJ), authenticated birth certificate issued by the NSO if was born in the Philippines or equivalent official agency in country of birth other than the Philippines. Fil-foreign applicants should also provide authenticated birth certificate of the player's Filipino parent or other valid and authenticated equivalent document acceptable to the appropriate government agency and the marriage certificate of his parents, or in the absence thereof due to circumstances beyond the applicant's control, Legal Recognition by applicant's Filipino father or other proof evidencing filiation such as a will, record of birth or DNA test results. Duly notarized and/or authenticated Naturalization papers of Filipino Parent, if applicable, and duly notarized affidavits of at least three (3) persons residing in the Philippines attesting to the claim of citizenship of applicant will also be required from the foreign-bred aspirants All Fil-foreign players – and their respective witnesses - will also undergo a personal interview to be conducted by Commissioner Noli Eala at least two weeks prior to the Draft. And lastly, they should have played at least 25 games in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL), NCAA, UAAP, National Basketball Conference (NBC), United Regional Basketball League (URBL) and Cebu Basketball Federation (CBF) on the day the league issues the final list of candidates for the Draft. - GMANews.TV