THE available talents for this year’s Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) rookie draft continue to grow in number with more players adding their names among the hopefuls.

One of those who recently applied for the draft is the country’s top 3×3 player and strong contender for top selection Joshua Munzon, who is viewed as further shoring up what many deem to be an already-deep draft class.

Mr. Munzon last saw action in the FIBA 3×3 World Tour last year after leading his team to the title in the Chooks-to-Go 3×3 Pilipinas in October.

Apart from making a name for himself in 3×3, the 6’4” Munzon made waves in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) while playing for the Saigon Heat and Westports Malaysia Dragons.

He also saw action in the PBA D-League, where he was selected number one overall by AMA Online Education.

The Fil-Am Munzon, 25, showed what a top-class talent he is in the league after averaging 35 points, 10 rebounds and 4.2 assists in the Aspirants’ Cup in 2019. Along the way, he also put up multiple 40-point games.

Also joining the draft is former De La Salle University captain Andrei Caracut, who was part of the 2016 University Athletic Association of the Philippines champion Green Archers team.

After college, Mr. Caracut became part of the Alab Pilipinas squad in the ABL.

Another player from the collegiate ranks who recently threw his name in the draft is big man Ben Adamos of Perpetual Help.

A two-time National Collegiate Athletic Association champion with San Beda University, Mr. Adamos transferred to the Altas and made a solid impact.

In NCAA Season 95, he averaged 11.6 points, on 45.1% shooting, 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. He later played for the Bacolod Master Sardines in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

“I know what I’m capable of and hopefully, the teams would take notice,” said Mr. Adamos in Filipino.

Messrs. Munzon, Caracut and Adamos joined the draft roster which already included Alvin Pasaol, Troy Rike, Santi Santillan, RK Ilagan, Tyrus Hill, and Franky Johnson.

The status of keenly eyed Fil-foreign applicants Jason Brickman, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Jeremiah Gray, meanwhile, is still to be determined as reports have it that documents needed for them to join the draft will not come in time for the application deadline set for Jan. 27.

The PBA rookie draft is slated for March 14, with the Terrafirma Dyip selecting first for the third straight season.

As of this writing, there were already 42 PBA draft applicants. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo