Baltazar, Ildefonso, Abarrientos among 70 aspirants in PBA Season 49 Rookie Draft

A total of 70 aspirants submitted their names for the upcoming PBA Rookie Draft for the league's 49th season.

Among the big names joining the draft are former Filipino imports Justine Baltazar, RJ Abarrientos, and Dave Ildefonso and Filipino-American players Sedrick Barefield and Caelan Tiongson.

NCAA champions Kurt Reyson and Pao Javillonar of Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Peter Alfaro of San Beda University will also try their chances in the pro league, along with standouts Miggy Corteza (Benilde), Jielo Razon (Perpetual), Ry Dela Rosa (JRU), Ralph Robin (EAC), and JP Maguliano (EAC).

Coming off their title run the UAAP, De La Salle University's Evan Nelle, Mark Nonoy, Jonnel Policarpio, Ben Phillips, and Francis Escandor also submitted their names for the draft. UAAP stars CJ Cansino (UP), Jerom Lastimosa (Adamson), Xyrus Torres (FEU), Kai Ballungay (Ateneo) are also on the 70-man list of applicants.

The applicants will undergo the Draft Combine on July 10 to 11.

Converge will make the first pick in the draft, followed by Blackwater, Terrafirma, Phoenix, NorthPort, NLEX, Rain or Shine with two picks, Magnolia, Barangay Ginebra, and San Miguel.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News