THE PBA is considering relaxing the application process for Fil-foreigners who wants to join the rookie draft.
Once the proposed rule change is done, Fil-foreigners will no longer be required to submit documents proving their Filipino lineage and dual citizenship.
Under present rules, the PBA listed 11 requirements for Fil-foreign draft applicants. The most tedious to obtain are the Bureau of Immigration (BI) certificate of recognition and the Department of Justice (DOJ) affirmation.
A certificate of identification as per Republic Act 9225 or the Citizenship Retention and Re-Acquisition Act of 2003 must also be submitted in the absence of the BI and DOJ documents.
Commissioner Willie Marcial admitted the league is studying such proposal, but warned that the rule changes are still being studied and might not take in effect soon enough to apply to rookie prospects in the next PBA draft set on March 14.
Marcial said Fil-foreigners who plan to play in the PBA must still obtain the requirements that have been in effect for years.
“Para safe, kumuha sila ng BID recognition at kung ano ‘yung mga requirements namin for the past several years,” said Marcial.
Other additional requirements for Fil-foreigners are authenticated birth certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority or equivalent agency if born outside the country of the applicant and parents; marriage certificate of parents or, in the absence of such, legal recognition by applicant’s Filipino father or other proof evidencing filiation such as will, record of birth, or DNA test; duly notarized and/or authenticated naturalization papers of Filipino parent if applicable; and duly notarized affidavits of at least three persons residing in the Philippines attesting to the claim of citizenship of applicant.
Locals, meanwhile, are only required to submit an application form, a PSA birth certificate, college diploma if less than 22 years old, and two 2x2 ID pictures.
Previously, applicants must also play a certain number of games in the PBA D-League. But that requirement was waived only for this coming draft after the developmental league's season was scrapped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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