Fil-Am guard first to apply in PBA Draft

Fil-American guard Ryan Reyes was the first to apply in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Draft on August 19 at Market Market Place in Taguig City, said the league in a statement released Tuesday. The 6-foot-2 Reyes, once a high school teammate of NBA three-point champion Jason Kapono of the Miami Heat, helped Henkel-Sista to a third place finish in the recent Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Unity Cup. In his stint in the season-ending conference, the 23-year-old Reyes led the Super Sealers in scoring with 11.4 points average, while shooting 33.3 percent from three-point range and 82 percent from the free throw line. Reyes, who played alongside Kapono at Artesian High in California, averaged 2.4 steals a game to pace the league, while being named Fantastic Freshman during the PBL's conference awards. Accompanied by his agent Charlie Dy, Reyes personally visited the PBA office to submit his application and other pertinent papers. "Handang-handa na," said the Fil-Am in straight Filipino. Although raised in the US, Reyes claimed that his parents were both Filipinos at the time he was born. Prior to his PBL stint, Reyes also saw action in the National Basketball Conference (NBC) and played for the Cebuana Lhuillier-sponsored national team in 2005. He is actually among the Fil-Am players being eyed by coach Chot Reyes for inclusion in the RP men's training pool. The league said that more applications are expected as the July 20 deadline for local born players – and June 29 for all Fil-Ams – nears. Among the players already eyeing to turn pro next year include UAAP Most Valuable Player (MVP) Ken Bono, Harbour Centre's JC Intal and Ryan Arana, Marvin Cruz of Toyota Balintawak, Cebuana Lhuillier's Doug Kramer, Henkel Sista's Samigue Eman and Burger King's JR Quinahan. For applicants to become eligible, one 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. For Fil-Am hopefuls, they must submit 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. They 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-Am 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. Finally, 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