A record number of applicants made themselves available for Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Draft this Sunday at the Market! Market! Activity Center in Taguig City.

By the end of the deadline of application on Sunday, a total of 128 players formally made it to the list for the proceedings that serve as the league's first official function for Season 48.

Among those who submitted their applications in the final week leading to the 10 September deadline were Ricci Rivero, Schonny Winston, Zav Lucero, Brent Paraiso, Keith Datu, Brandon Bates, Luis Villegas, Ken Tuffin, Stephen Holt, Kim Aurin, Raphael Cu, Fran Yu, Henry Galinato, Dominick Fajardo, Kenmark Cariño, Sherwin Concepcion, James Kwekuteye, among others.

Meanwhile, the league had moved its opening from 15 October to 5 November to give way for Gilas Pilipinas' participation in the 19th Asian Games.

"They are making a huge sacrifice so it is only fitting that we give them enough time to rest," PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said.

"We also want our teams to prepare for the coming season."

The huge number of applicants is a new PBA record, surpassing the previous mark of 97 tallied for the Season 46 draft. The 31 Fil-foreign applicants also went down as all-time high.