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Thursday, July 04, 2024

Former Gilas Pilipinas RJ Abarrientos will join UAAP Season 86 Champions Mark Nonoy and Jonnel Policarpio, and former Ateneo Blue Eagle Kai Ballungay as last-minute additions in the upcoming PBA Draft.

The PBA Draft suddenly got stacked overnight, following last minute signing of prominent players.

Former Japan B. League player Rj Abarrientos came home after his stint in the Shinshu Brave Warriors and has applied for the PBA Draft, following in the footsteps of his uncle, 12-time champion and PBA legend Johnny Abbarientos.

[ALSO READ: B.League: RJ Abarrientos, Shinshu Brave Warriors part ways]

Before his B. League stint, the former FEU Tamarraw played in the Korean Basketball League where Abarrientos won Rookie of the Year with the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis.

Meanwhile, Mark Nonoy and Jonnel Policarpio are coming from a championship with the DLSU Green Archers in UAAP Season 86, with both also being last minute applications to the 2024 PBA Draft together with Former Ateneo Blue Eagle Kai Ballungay.

Abarrientos, Nonoy, Policarpio, and Ballungay join potential no. 1 pick Justine Baltazar, Dave Ildefonso, Caelan Tiongson, CJ Cansino, Evan Nelle, and Ben Phillips in the upcoming draft.

[ALSO READ: Justine Baltazar headlines 2024 PBA Draft class]

Converge owns the no. 1 overall pick followed by Blackwater, Terrafirma, Phoenix, Northport, and NLEX in order of the draft that will unfold on July 14 at Glorietta in Makati.

Rounding out the first round are Rain or Shine (drafting seventh and eighth), Magnolia, Ginebra, Meralco, and San Miguel.

Before the formal Draft, the aspirants are required to attend a two-day Combine at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City on July 10 and 11