After six rounds, 48 of the 67 official applicants were selected in Sunday's PBA Season 49 draft at the Glorietta Makati.
As a whole, the draft turned out to be unpredictable.
While a few selections followed the anticipated course, most picks deviated from expectations. With more prominent names declaring for this season, it was the perfect chance for teams improve their roster -- and their prospects for the upcoming season.
We dive into the aftermath and uncover who emerged as the biggest winners and surprising losers of this draft.
CONVERGE FIBERXERS:
Justine Baltazar (1st)
Paolo Javillonar (19th)
Ben Phillips (21st)
Jason Credo (24th)
Ronan Santos (25th)
Converge solidified its starting frontcourt by snagging Justine Baltazar as the first overall pick. Not only that, more big-man depth was added to the team in the second and third rounds with Paolo Javillonar, Ben Phillips, and Ronan Santos.
They also drafted former Ateneo Blue Eagle Jason Credo, who -- if he cracks the roster -- could provide depth in their shooting guard/wing rotation.
The FiberXers have found their main guy in Baltazar. The next thing to watch out for is the other moves they have up their sleeves as they look to bounce from a lackluster Season 48 showing.
Grade: A
BLACKWATER BOSSING:
Sedrick Barefield (2nd)
Miggy Corteza (20th; via Rain or Shine Elasto Painters)
DJ Mitchell (26th)
Keith Pido (38th)
Being able to draft a talent like Barefield is already a big plus for Blackwater, which needs a boost on offense (106.5 offensive rating -- the fourth-worst mark in the Philippine Cup).
The rationale of getting Mitchell in the third round should be about his ability to become a knockdown shooter from deep, an aspect that needs refining for the Bossing -- which was only at 30.8% -- ranked 9th in the past conference.
Meanwhile, Pido has his work cut out for him among all their picks, having to compete for minutes with JVee Casio and RK Ilagan. Acquiring Corteza (pending approval) seems like a sound move as Blackwater works to determine the optimal combinations in their forward lineup.
Grade: B+
BARANGAY GINEBRA:
RJ Abarrientos (3rd)
Didat Hanapi (17th)
Paolo Hernandez (22nd)
Paul Garcia (34th)
Does it feel surreal that a new-generation Abarrientos will also be under the tutelage of Tim Cone? With Barangay Ginebra moving up in this draft, they made a big splash by picking one of the projected higher-ceiling guards in this draft class to build a team that can continue their dominance in the long run.
However, there could be a concern as to why the team did not even try to get a flier big.
A pile of perimeter-oriented guards/wings in Hanapi (17th pick), Hernandez (22nd pick), and Garcia (34th pick) should influx some young blood to an aging Ginebra roster. But the philosophy of the winningest coach in PBA history is well known: these three players will have to impress from the get-go.
Grade: B+
RJ Abarrientos (represented by his uncle The Flying A Johnny Abarrientos) is selected 3rd overall by Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel #PBASeason49Draft pic.twitter.com/WAFAQ30Fma
— PBA (@pbaconnect) July 14, 2024
PHOENIX FUEL MASTERS:
Kai Ballungay (4th)
CJ Payawal (28th)
Chino Mosqueda (40th)
Patrick Feliciano (52nd)
When Phoenix was on the clock for the fourth overall pick, it was a no-brainer that choosing Ballungay was the best move for them. Considerably the best player for that spot and solving the big man issue they have, the 22-year-old player should fit like a glove for the Fuel Masters and can form an excellent offensive frontcourt with Jason Perkins.
Another good get at number 28 is CJ Payawal, who has shown that he can be relied upon as a marksman from the outside. With these strategic picks, Phoenix is positioning itself to strengthen its roster and improve its performance in the upcoming season.
Grade: A
NORTHPORT BATANG PIER:
Dave Ildefonso (5th)
Evan Nelle (14th)
Agem Miranda (29th)
John Uduba (41st)
Germy Mahinay (53rd)
Robbi Darang (65th)
If NorthPort Batang Pier had been told that both Ildefonso and Nelle would be part of their squad for the next season ahead of the draft, they would have been ecstatic.
Already boasting a lineup of talented wings, former Blue Eagle Ildefonso should become another vital cog to add more versatility for the team. Meanwhile, the playmaking prowess of Nelle should make him the point guard that they've been missing since shipping Robert Bolick.
Another guard that could boost the Batang Pier off the bench is Miranda, who can slot in at the backup point guard role alongside Fran Yu.
Grade: A
NLEX ROAD WARRIORS:
Jonnel Policarpio (6th)
Brandon Ramirez (18th)
Xyrus Torres (30th)
Denzel Wong (42nd)
Adrian Partosa
The way NLEX made use of their picks might go under the radar, but it did address the deficiencies the team possesses.
Getting Policarpio feels like a good-value, high-upside bet for number six. Ramirez at number 18 will helping any rebounding issues, and adding a floor spacer in Torres can be seen as a steal for the 30th pick.
It's now a matter of how patient the Road Warriors will be, as their prized pick Policarpio will go through growing pains -- being one of the more younger prospects in this draft
Grade: B+
RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO PAINTERS:
Caelan Tiongson (7th)
Felix Lemetti (8th)
Francis Escandor (13th)
Michael Malonzo (16th)
Darwish Bederi (32nd)
It's interesting how the Elasto Painters approached the 7th and 8th picks -- as they went with players who will be relatively foreign to most local fans.
Tiongson did not play college ball in the Philippines and wasn't visible until his present stint with the Strong Group Athletics in the Williams Jones Cup. Lemetti is a totally new face in the country, having played mainly in the US NCAA and Sweden.
The second rounders in Escandor -- a wing shooter -- and Malonzo -- a blue-collar player -- should at least get a chance to prove themselves and improve the Elasto Painters' current 3-4 positions. For now, it is safe to say that Rain or Shine executed the selections in the most 'Yeng Guiao-way' possible.
Grade: A
MAGNOLIA HOTSHOTS:
Jerom Lastimosa (9th)
Romulo Berjay (33rd)
Ry Dela Rosa (45th)
Injury fears aside, Magnolia picking up Lastimosa signifies that there could be a changing of the guard in terms of their backcourt.
When 100% healthy, the 26-year old player has shown he can be the lead guy at collegiate level. Things are going to be different now as well, where Lastimosa will be surrounded by better talent and can be guided by veterans like Mark Barroca and Paul Lee.
Apart from the former Adamson Soaring Falcon, their other lower picks aren't looking like they are going to move the needle in Magnolia's quest to become champions in the PBA again.
Grade: B
TERRAFIRMA DYIP:
Mark Nonoy (10th)
CJ Catapusan (15th)
Peter Alfaro (27th)
The team that probably had the most shocking selections was Terrafirma Dyip.
Mark Nonoy at No. 10 is definitely a controversial choice, especially with the talent still available at that point of the draft. They now have to bank that his on-ball defense will pop playing alongside star guard Juami Tiongson.
Both Catapusan and Alfaro might have something in them, but their sample size at collegiate and semi-pro level does not provide much confidence that they can be winning contributors.
Grade: C
MERALCO BOLTS:
CJ Cansino (11th)
Kurt Reyson (23rd)
JP Maguliano (35th)
Jordan Bartlett (47th)
The newest PBA champions adding Cansino for another offensive spark plug should only make them a more lethal two-way team. Moreover, if the former UP Fighting Maroon puts the work in defensively, Meralco can have a versatile and switchable lineup because of their ability to play Newsome in the 1-position and pair him with taller guards and wings.
Reyson also adds a layer of scoring optionality with their point guard rotation, but his efficiency has to increase if he wants consistent floor time.
Grade: B+
SAN MIGUEL BEERMEN:
Avan Nava (12th)
Abdul Sawat (36th)
Ralph Robin (48th)
For the past drafts, San Miguel has not -- or barely used -- their picks. Will it change now they have had a first-round pick? It's still hard to believe.
Nava had a short stint as an Asian import in the Korean Basketball League (KBL), but will that be enough to get minutes over CJ Perez, Terrence Romeo and Jericho Cruz? The same goes for Sawat and Robin, pretty much.
Grade: C
TNT TROPANG GIGA:
Jared Brown (31st)
Mark Neil Cruz (43rd)
The lack of first and second-round picks hampered the selection of the Tropang Giga, so it was tough to get reliable players to bolster what they currently have.
Everything has to pan out well for both Brown and Cruz if they are to get rotational minutes in a loaded TNT squad.
Grade: C