GILAS cadet member Jake Pascual prefers to take a wait-and-see attitude before deciding on whether to join the PBA Rookie Draft this year.
While expressing his excitement at the prospect of turning pro, the former San Beda stalwart said he wants to finish his campaign first in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup and then see what are the plans for him by his mother team NLEX, especially after the Metro Pacific Investments got the nod of the pro league board to become one of three expansion franchises next season.
“Plan ko this time, wait ko muna matapos ang conference ng D-League. Antayin ko rin plan ng NLEX sa amin,” said Pascual.
His statement is in stark contrast to fellow Gilas cadet and NLEX teammates Garvo Lanete and Kevin Alas, who already expressed their intentions of joining the 2014 Draft.
But the likelihood of Lanete and Alas not going through the Draft is also possible as the two are expected to end up as among the Road Warriors’ direct-hire players should the PBA board allows all three expansion teams such special concession.
So far, the league has only approved a concession of protect 14 list by all 10 existing teams, with players who are not protected automatically being included in the expansion draft.
The 10 teams can also opt to protect just 12 players, but will lose their shot of selecting in the second round of the Draft.
Commissioner Chito Salud, however, vowed to review the league’s earlier decision of not granting direct hire concession to the three expansion teams.
Nevertheless, Pascual is looking forward of playing in the pros after a fruitful stint in the D-League that saw him win a conference MVP.
“Pero excited na rin ako magpa-draft para makalaro sa PBA,” he said.
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