Kirk Long gets OK to join D-League, PBA stint next?

Ateneo Blue Eagle Kirk Long got the go-signal from PBA Commissioner Chito Salud to join the PBA Developmental League Monday, a move which could pave the way for the American to join the PBA.   The 23-year-old Long, who is graduating from Ateneo de Manila University this March, has expressed his desire to join the PBA Draft, but is prevented by his American blood.   Under current draft rules, Long is ineligible to submit his name to the pool because he lacks any Filipino ancestry.   Long's argument though is that he has live an extraordinary amount of time in the Philippines. He spent four years in high school at Faith Academy, located in Rizal, Antipolo, before enrolling at Ateneo, studying there and playing five years in the UAAP. In a manner of thinking, Long has spent nine years establishing his residency.   While the league office has not yet given him permission to join the PBA, a stint in the D-League may be the next step towards getting that.   Under current PBA rules, any Fil-foreign player must have played at least two conferences in the D-League before becoming eligible for the draft.   It is thus possible that Salud will grant Long a special exemption to be classified as a Fil-foreigner following the above guidelines.   Entering college as a deadeye scorer, Long morphed into a shutdown defender over his five years as a Blue Eagle, under the coaching of Norman Black. His contributions helped Ateneo to four straight UAAP titles.   He was also recently named the Model Collegiate Player of the Year by the Philippine Collegiate Champions League.   In addition to basketball, Long also excels at baseball, where he is an outfielder for the Ateneo Blue Batters team that will compete for a UAAP title. -- OMG, GMA News