January 28, 2021 | 6:11 pm Font Size AAA AMONG THE PLAYERS who beat the deadline for PBA draft application was La Salle point guard Aljun Melecio. (UAAP) By Senior Reporter PHILIPPINE Basketball Association (PBA) teams looking to shore up their rosters by way of the rookie draft will have many to choose from as a record number of aspirants submitted their applications. As the application deadline set by the league lapsed on Wednesday, a record of 97 players made themselves available for the 2021 Draft proceedings set for March 14. The number broke the previous record of 91 set in the 2014 rookie draft. The rookie talent pool includes top collegiate and pro-am standouts and 31 Fil-foreigners who are hoping to barge into Asia’s first play-for-pay league and take their basketball journeys to another level.