Ready for draft

Four Fil-Ams from D-League sign up for upcoming PBA Draft slated Aug. 19

Four Filipino-Americans who saw action in the recent PBA D-League finals signed up for the pro league draft yesterday.

Alex Mallari and Keith Jensen, Big Chill’s top duo, submitted their names for the 2012 PBA Rookie Draft along with teammate Elliot Tan and Karl Dehesa of three-time champion NLEX.

This year’s draft is set on Aug. 19 at Robinson’s Midtown Manila.

Foreign players with Filipino roots only have until July 6 to submit all documentary requirements, while homegrown talents have until Aug. 3 to comply.

Mallari, a 6-foot-4 swingman, was named in the D-League Season Mythical Five after averaging 11.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.8 steals for the Superchargers.

Before his stint here, the 25-year-old Mallari also suited up for Lewis-Clark State College in the US National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Jensen, a 6-foot-4 forward who normed 12 points and 7.1 rebounds last conference, played for New York University in the NCAA Division 3.

Tan, the 5-foot-10 son of former PBA player Alex Tan, came from Biola Uiversity in NAIA, while the 6-foot-3 Dehesa played as a guard for Waldorf College.

The commissioner’s office will release the preliminary list of foreign aspirants with Filipino roots on July 10, while the period to contest the eligibility of their application is set from July 11 to Aug. 2 .

Homegrown talents JV Casio and Paul Lee topped the Rookie Draft last year, while other first round picks were Chris Lutz, Marcio Lassiter, Mark Barroca, Mac Baracael, Jason Ballesteros, Allein Maliksi, Reil Cervantes and Dylan Ababou. /inquirer