Last year’s draftees with PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial.– Unlike in previous years, there’s not much star power in the Season 50 Draft on Sunday.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Big names may be lacking unlike in years past, but there’s no doubt that there will still be anticipation as to how the PBA Rookie Draft will transpire on Sunday at SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.
With 122 applicants, this year’s draft is considered one of the biggest in history, but the question remains is whether some of them can make an immediate impact or for the long-term, whether they are projected top picks or diamonds in the rough.
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Draft order
Terrafirma is in a familiar role as the team that chooses first in the proceedings. By virtue of their lowly 3-30 campaign across all three conferences in Season 49, the Dyip got the No. 1 choice for the fifth time in the last seven seasons.
Converge will choose second after consummating a deal with Phoenix in exchange for the eighth pick plus forward Bryan Santos. Blackwater is third, followed by NorthPort, NLEX, Magnolia, Meralco, Phoenix, San Miguel Beer, Rain or Shine, Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine.
Rain or Shine has the 12th pick originally owned by TNT. The Elasto Painters got the selection in 2023 from the Tropang 5G for then-second round pick Henry Galinato and Jewel Ponferada.
Ginebra picks first in the second round which is originally from Terrafirma as part of a post-2024 Draft trade, followed by Phoenix, Blackwater, NorthPort, NLEX, Terrafirma (from Magnolia), Meralco, Rain or Shine (from Converge), Converge (from San Miguel), Rain or Shine, Ginebra and, again, Rain or Shine (from TNT via Blackwater).
The third round onwards will be a standard order based on the cumulative standings, starting with Terrafirma, Phoenix, Blackwater, NorthPort, NLEX, Magnolia, Meralco, Converge, San Miguel, Rain or Shine, Ginebra and TNT.
READ: PBA Draft: Top prospects, unheralded hopefuls join combine
As common practice, the Draft will continue until all teams have decided to pass.
NorthPort’s role
The Batang Pier will still take part in the Draft despite the impending sale of its franchise to Pureblends Corporation. PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said NorthPort will remain with the league until a review committee recommends and the Board of Governors agrees with Pureblends’ purchase. NorthPort selects fourth in each round.
NorthPort coach Bonnie Tan plus assistants Renzy Bajar attended the Draft Combine, observing potential picks, though the presence of ex-Terrafirma coach Johnedel Cardel brought questions of a possible future role.
Projected top picks
Observers see Juan Gomez de Liano, Geo Chiu, Dalph Panopio, Jason Brickman and Will Gozum as among the early picks, based on talent and credentials.
Gomez de Liano is joining the proceedings after playing four years overseas, Chiu is the tallest applicant at 6-foot-9, Panopio played for Batang Gilas with Chiu in 2019, Brickman has a history playing in the Asean Basketball League and Taiwan while Gozum was a former NCAA Most Valuable Player for College of St. Benilde.
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Wealth of experience
Brickman is the oldest applicant at 33 after his bid to enter the PBA at an earlier age was denied multiple times, including in 2021 when he failed to secure the requirements. Fil-American Chris Miller, who played pro ball in Europe and Iraq for over a decade, is among 30-ish hopefuls, 32 to be exact.
They are also among the 18 Fil-foreigners, including 21-year-old Jacey Cruz, the youngest entrant, joining the Draft after some of the early applicants were stricken off the list, namely expected first-rounder Kascius Small-Martin.
Lack of collegiate names, plenty of MPBL mainstays
The UAAP’s decision to stick with its rule of barring graduating players from joining the Draft during the season, after politely declining the PBA’s request, left the proceedings lacking some of the standout collegiate players, though many NCAA players have applied in College of St. Benilde’s Tony Ynot and Shawn Umali, San Beda’s Yukien Andrada and Brian Sajonia and Letran’s Deo Cuajao.
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Almost half of the field is currently in the MPBL, namely Chiu and CJ Austria for the Abra Weavers, Gozum and L-Jay Gonzales for the Quezon Huskers, Jonas Tibayan of the Mindoro Tamaraws and Draft Combine MVP Sonny Estil of the Pampanga Giant Lanterns.
