POSSIBLE recruits for the next season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) will have to endure a one-week training camp in a bid to shore up their stocks in the upcoming draft.
The 72 hopefuls as of Monday's list up deadline will have to display their hard court skills at the start of the camp on August 20.
The first day of the camp will be held at the Club 650 Gym in Libis, Quezon City, where players will be subjected to physical test and drills, which will determine the composition of the four teams that will undergo single-round eliminations.
The elimination round, which will culminate in a knockout championship, is slated August 21 to 26 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Just like in the previous drafts, the strength and athleticism of all rookie aspirants will be determined on the initial day of activities through physical measurement (height, weights, wing span) and strength test (push-ups, sit ups, sprint, bench press and pull ups).
Then, they will undertake different drills such as agility, shooting and dribbling. Day 1 activity will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Game time takes place the following day with the players divided into four teams, namely, Red, Blue, White and Yellow. All games will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
After the three elimination games, the competition will proceed to the crossover semifinals on August 24, which will pit the top-seeded team against the no. 4 squad, while the second-ranked team will face no.3.
The winners in the knockout semis will battle it out in the one-game championship.
UAAP, NCAA cast
As expected, former collegiate stars have listed themselves for the annual draft which includes 2008 UAAP Most Valuable Player Rabeh-Al-Hussaini of Ateneo de Manila, former NCAA MVO John Wilson of Jose Rizal University, former UAAP defense king Nonoy Baclao, and former Blue Eagle stalwarts Ford Arao and Jai Reyes.
Others who have expressed interest are UAAP slam dunk king Elmer Espiritu of University of the East, Jimbo Aquino of San Sebastian College, Marvin Hayes, University of Santo Tomas graduate Khazim Mirza, Rey Guevarra and Letran's RJ Jazul.
The PBA said there are 20 Fil-foreign players for this year's draft, although only Josh Vanlandingham of Everett Community College, Sean Michael Anthony of McGill University and Hyram Bagatsing of La Salle have processed their respective documents.
On an interesting note, Vanlandingham happens to be the great grandson of Filipino Olympic medalist, the late swimming great Teofilo Yldefonso.
Draft day is set on August 29 at the Market! Market! Place in Taguig, with Air21 the owner of the no.1 overall pick. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)