The Philippine Basketball Association draft is an annual event dating back to 1985 in which the twelve teams from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league.
Persons who chose Philippine citizenship by the age of maturity are considered as natural-born citizens.
Imports – non-Filipino citizens, even those born in the Philippines – do not enter the PBA via the draft.
[7][8] From 1985 to 2004 and since 2011, the PBA has had unlimited number of rounds until all the teams have passed, with all undrafted players becoming free agents.
This was removed in 2011 as the PBL had folded, and amateur players played in the PBA D-League instead.
[10][11] Two time MVP Danny Ildefonso of the Meralco Bolts was selected as the first pick of the expansion draft by Blackwater, followed by Reil Cervantes of Barako Bull by Kia.