MANILA – Former Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles center William Navarro has been included in the list of special Gilas Pilipinas draft for the upcoming 2021 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie draft on March 14.
Navarro is the fourth and final addition to the Gilas draft roster aside from Fil-Ams Jordan Heading and Tzaddy Rangel and former University of the Philippines guard Frederick Tungcab.
“Navarro initially begged off from the special draft, but his stint inside the Gilas bubble has convinced him that this would be the best direction for his development as a basketball player,” Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) said.
According to SBP president Al Panlilio, the 6-foot-6 center had a change of heart after he participated in the Gilas bubble training in Calamba, Laguna.
“The SBP strongly believes the program we have now would give us the opportunity to build the best team possible for the 2023 FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Basketball World Cup. This is why it’s important for us to get the commitment of talented players to join the pool,” he added.
SBP has initially asked the PBA board of governors to allow it to name a ‘minimum of three and maximum of five players’ for inclusion in this year’s special Gilas draft but only four were convinced to joining.
Terrafirma Dyip will have the first shot at picking among the fourth Gilas special draftees, followed by NorthPort Batang Pier and NLEX Road Warriors.
“The SBP thanks the PBA board of governors and Commissioner Willie Marcial for their flexibility in this matter and for allowing Navarro to join the Gilas pool instead,” Panlilio said.
“We know a lot of teams had their eyes on Navarro, but the board of governors saw past that to consider the needs of Gilas. He will be the last addition to our pool to give the PBA teams enough time to map their game-plan for the upcoming draft,” he added.
Last year, Gilas has five players in the PBA special draft like George Isaac Go of Terrafirma Dyip, brothers Matt and Mike Nieto of NLEX Road Warriors and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, respectively, Allyn Bulanadi of Alaska Aces, and Rey Suerte of Blackwater Elite./PN
