Barring any last-minute surprise, Gabe Norwood, the exciting and slam-dunking guard from George Mason University, could be the next biggest thing in the PBA.

With Rain or Shine (formerly Welcoat Paints) all set to tab him as its No. 1 pick, the 6-foot-5 Norwood needs only to submit minor documents today to be eligible for the 2008 PBA Rookie Draft set Sunday at the Market! Market! Place at The Fort in Taguig City.

Three other Fil-Am players – Jared Dillinger, Chris Viardo and Charles Waters – are also required their respective original copies of certificate from the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) as well as affirmation paper from the Department of Justice (DoJ) to join the annual drafting.

“Mukhang malinaw na makalaro si Norwood,” said a PBA source who refused to be identified.

Well, it was already expected since the pro league has gave the former PBL hotshot a concession when it waived other documents like birth certificates and marriage contract of his parents, and submit only his DoJ and BID papers.

That because Norwood, who steered Hapee Toothpaste two straight finals appearances in the PBL, is a Philippine passport holder – a reason why he was able to play for two national teams.

He first played with the all-pro team in the FIBA-Asia Championship in Japan and with the gold-medal winning all-PBL team in the 24th Southeast Asian Game in Thailand.

“Still, without a BID and DoJ papers, he’s ineligible for the Draft, and that goes for the other (three) applicants. So we’ll wait for their papers before we come up with the final Draft list,” said Commissioner Sonny Barrios.

There were reports yesterday that Norwood is arriving today to personally hand the remaining documents needed to become eligible for the drafting.

Raymond Yu, co-team owner of Rain or Shine, said he also heard about that report but he could not verify it.

“We don’t know if he’s coming, but we hope it’s true,” said Terry Que, the other co-team owner of Rain or Shine.

A year ago, Rain or Shine used the top pick by selecting 6-foot-6 Fil-Am Joe De Vance. With either Norwood or Dillinger, Rain or Shine is expected to be a major force in the coming all-Filipino conference.

“We are determined to make our team a title contender,” said Yu. “We look at Norwood as our savior. I know he can bring us to the Promised Land.”

In case Norwood is not available, Rain or Shine will go for Dillinger. If Dillinger is ineligible too, the Elastopainters will tab former Philippine Christian University (PCU) standout Jason Castro.

“The developments as far as Draft or possible trades will be known after the deadline (today), because all these depends if Norwood and Dillinger would make it or not,” the source added.

The 5-foot-11 Castro, a three-time MVP in the PBL, is currently playing in the Brunei Cup for the Singapore Slingers. The former Harbour Centre ace signed a lucrative 8-month deal with the Slingers.

But there’s a possibility that Castro can still play in the PBA if someone buys his contract with the Slingers.

Three Fil-foreigners, on the other hand, have submitted their respective documents from the DoJ and BID, and these are Solomon Mercado, Rob Reyes and Kevin Delafu.

Solomon, a teammate of Castro with PBL champion Harbour Centre, and Reyes are also expected to be among the top five picks.

TNT will pick again at No.4, followed by Alaska (5), Air21 (6), Purefoods (7), Air21 again (8), Fiesta Cup champion Ginebra (9) and Philippine Cup Sta. Lucia Realty (10).

From the original 49 who submitted their applications, only two were cut, UM’s Diomar Facun and RTU’s Michael Olino, after the two-day pre-Draft Camp held at the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) in Taft Ave., Manila.

Other noted talents from the current 47 names include former national players Jeff Chan, Jonathan Fernandez, Beau Belga, TY Tang, Patrick Cabahug, La Salle’s Cholo Villanueva, UE’s Kelvin Gregorio and Mark Borboran, San Beda’s Pong Escobal, NCAA MVP Kelvin dela Pena and Larry Rodriguez.

Completing the 47-man list approved so far by the Commissioner’s Office are Ryan Regalado, Mark Anthony Cuevas, Andrew Catigan, Michael Dizon, Ismael Junio, Christian Reyes, Angelus Raymundo, Eian Yu, Dennis Concha, Frankly Nailon, Michael Gonzales, Mark Yee, Rene Cunanan, Eder Saldua, Nestor David, Earn Saguindel, Nizar Kiram, Ferdinand Melocoton, Juan Luis Abad, Christian Cabatu, Nathaniel Cruz, Lei Mar Navarro, Jan Coching, Chito Jaime, Ricky Natividad, Christian Espiritu and Lawrence Bonus.

Meantime, new PBA chairman Joaqui Trillo of Alaska said that the board would discuss in its meeting sometime next week the prospect of bringing back the old three-conference format.

Trillo, however, said that it would not be this year, although he mentioned having an invitational tournament after the season as part of the league’s support to prepare the all-pro national team.

The nationals will compete in the FIBA-Asia Championship in China next year, which is the qualifying event for the 2010 World Championship in Turkey.