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    Brickman, two others face eligibility issues ahead of PBA Draft

    Lack of DOJ, BI papers make Brickman, two others ineligible for PBA Draft
    Jan 9, 2021

    UNLESS the PBA makes a drastic, last-minute change to relax its ruling, three potential first round picks are not likely eligible to join the 2021 Rookie Draft.

    Lacking pertinent papers required by the league for Fil-foreign players, Jason Brickman, Brandon Ganuelas Rosser, and Jeremiah Gray are in danger of being stricken out of the list of eligible draft applicants for the March 14 proceedings.

    Sports agent Charlie Dy, who represents the three players, disclosed the PBA already told him about the situation of the rookie hopefuls, who have yet to secure a Department of Justice (DoJ) affirmation and Bureau of Immigration (BI) certification with less than three weeks left before the January 27 deadline for submission of application and requirements.

    All three have submitted their applications to the PBA.

    “I got a message the other day saying that they’re not eligible until they submit those requirements,” said Dy during the Saturday sports program Power& Play hosted by former PBA commissioner Noli Eala.

    With the cases of COVID-19 still on the rise in the US, Dy said Brickman and Co. are having a hard time securing flights to the country to personally handle the paperwork they needed from both the BI and DoJ.

    “Actually hindi na siya aabot (deadline) kasi with the pandemic they can’t even fly in,” added Dy, who was joined in the show by fellow players’ agent Marvin Espiritu.

    “Hindi puwede (to follow yung papers) so they have to wait for next year.”

    While not trying to upend the league, Dy believes though it’s about time the PBA leadership revisits the long-standing requirements asked among Fil-foreign applicants which has been in effect since 1998.

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    “Kasi ang rule ng PBA is (BI) recognition and (DoJ) affirmation pa rin until the Board changes it, yun pa rin ang masusunod,” said Dy quoting PBA legal counsel Atty. Melvin Mendoza.

    Dy, who is also team owner of ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) team Alab Pilipinas, added he’s actually persuading Mendoza to personally suggest to the PBA Board reconsidering the requirements for Fil-foreign rookie applicants.

    “Him (Mendoza) being a lawyer, sabi ko nga dapat yata siya ang mag-recommend sa Board,” said Dy. “Marami ng changes e, and the rule has been like 22 years.”

    The PBA decided to relax the requirements compelling draft applicants to play a certain number of games in the D-League, including seven games each in two conferences for Fil-foreign players, as the developmental league was cancelled for the entire 2020 season following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

    The rest of the requirements however, remained the same.

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    Brickman, Gray, and Ganuelas-Rosser are considered blue-chip players who are among those expected to be first round selections in the rookie draft set two months from now.

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