One of the Fil-foreign players who will see action in the PBA 3x3 tournament welcomed the league’s decision to relax its eligibility rules beginning in year’s Rookie Draft.
Brandon Rosser said it’s a welcome change for Fil-foreigners, who will only need to secure Philippine passport in order to be eligible for future drafts.
“I’m really happy,” the Limitless Appmasters cager said during the recent PBA 3x3 media day at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. “I think it should have been done a few years ago and I’m just glad that it’s done now.”
The brother of Terrafirma’s Matt Ganuelas-Rosser was supposed to join the draft last March but didn’t make the final list for failing to secure needed requirements before the deadline.
Under the previous rule, Fil-foreigners also need a certification from the Bureau of Immigration and affirmation from the Department of Justice.
These requirements were implemented several years ago in order to safeguard the PBA from “Fil-Shams” that hounded the league in the early-2000s.
But the PBA caved in to the argument of some to adopt to the current times, deciding to remove the requirements from the Immigration and Justice departments.
The same rule also prohibited other first round prospects like Jason Brickman and Jeremiah Gray from the 2021 draft.
Rosser and Gray opted to play in the PBA 3x3, with the latter joining the TNT Tropang Giga, while also working on their documents. Brickman was supposed to join the Meralco Bolts 3x3 squad but is now set to play for a pro team in Taiwan.
“I think regardless of the rule, I would have able to make it to the next draft,” said Rosser. “But I’m happy that the rule has changed, not just for myself but also Fil-foreign players who want to join the PBA.”
For now, Rosser is focused on making an impression in the PBA’s 3x3 scene where he’ll team up with Jorey Napoles, Mike Gamboa and Reymar Caduyac.