It is time again for the best NBA2K League players from the Asia-Pacific region to showcase their skills in the 2020 NBA 2K League APAC Invitational and earn the opportunity to be drafted into the NBA2K League.

The event returns for its second year and features 20 players from China, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.

Gen.G’s entry into the NBA 2K League as an Asian league franchise could mean the opportunities are more real than ever for players from the region to make the step up into the professional league. APAC gives players the opportunity to play in front of, and participate in, face to face interviews with NBA 2K League scouts and General Managers. Perhaps most importantly, the APAC gives the players the perfect vehicle to test and prove themselves against the best in the Asia-Pacific region, coupled with the added pressure of the gaming studio stage.

The NBA 2K League APAC Invitational will be held at Nexon Arena in Seoul, South Korea on January 20-21! #2KLAPAC pic.twitter.com/0PVsoGvkCt

— NBA 2K League (@NBA2KLeague) January 15, 2020

Let’s take a look at the players to watch in the Asia-Pacific Combine ahead of the NBA 2K League’s third season.

First up from Australia we have Mace ‘Milo’ Camille at Center. Milo has been knocking on the door since the league’s inception, and has earned a reputation as one of Australia and New Zealand’s very best Pro-Am big men. A strong paint presence with elite rebounding and smart defensive skills, Milo is a serious threat rolling to the rim. Any NBA 2K League franchise would be well served in drafting Milo, a great team player and personality fit.

Look for: Strong communication, leadership and paint domination.

Next up at point guard from the Philippines is Rial ‘PBE_Rial’ Polog, a devastating and efficient scoring guard who might be the Philippines pre-eminent NBA 2K player. Rial has won multiple times at the NBA2K Asia tournament (Reconfigured as a myTEAM tournament in 2019). Predominantly a sharpshooting two-guard, Rial excels running off screen and well … Rial greens everything from deep range. On the surface guard is a loaded position in and around the league and draft pool, but Rial is ready to take the next step up into the professional ranks. Being a great shooter and off the dribble shooter could boost Rial’s draft stocks as a combo-guard who can proficiently execute some secondary ball handling if a team is set at point guard.

Look for: Scorched nets. Rial provides the scoring punch at guard.

An honorable must watch mention must also go to point guard Lynard ‘PBE clark’ Banzon from the Phillipines. PBE Clarke has some of the toughest to guard, jerky, yet somehow silky smooth dribble moves on the Pro-Am scene, often sending defenders crashing the wrong way into screens giving himself ample room to shoot from three.

Look for: Good shooter and dribble moves that send defenders flying.

Over to New Zealand this time to scout another exciting prospect at point guard, Jordan ‘JaeDubb’ Walden from Auckland, a young man on the rise in the Pro-Am scene. His game is growing year on year and is definitely one to watch at this year’s Asia Pacific Combine. Jaedubb excels in the high pick and roll game utilizing his advanced dribble moves to create separation and green almost everything from deep range. In speaking to JaeDubb’s teammates, they were quick to compliment his passing vision and ability to penetrate into the paint, draw help and find the open player for high percentage shots. It’s easy to make a pass after drawing help, the real skill is finding the open man seemingly every time.

Look for: Eyes up court vision and dribble penetration.

The inaugural Asia-Pacific Combine in 2019 provided the exposure to the wider NBA 2K community that the region craved and for Jack ‘Jaacko’ Stevenson the tournament was a life changing event. Jaacko played extremely well throughout the weekend, with the added difficulty of playing slightly out of position at point guard, and was rewarded with the Detroit Pistons GT selecting him 50th overall in the 2019 draft. Jaacko repaid the faith in him by the Pistons, scoring a game high 21 points on debut and being awarded the Intel Player of The Game Award.

🇳🇿 New Zealand's Jack "Jaacko" Stevenson (@Jaackos7th) made his @NBA2KLeague debut for the @PistonsGT and there was no shortage of buckets 🏀🔥 pic.twitter.com/BOW6KSfv3e

— NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) April 18, 2019

The talent on display in this year’s iteration of the APAC tournament all but guarantees an amazing exhibition of NBA 2K basketball.

This article represents the thoughts and opinions of the writer and not on the NBA 2K League.