Rumour
Rumour
The PBA draft on Jan. 17 is expected to run deep, with teams projected to keep selecting blue-chip prospects all the way into the third round rather than settling for filler late in the day. The driver is scheduling: the UAAP and NCAA seasons are now aligned, so graduating players can enter the draft without the conflicts that kept some of them out in previous years.
PBA draft prospects get a clearer path
The league is also opening the door wider for players who previously skipped the draft to chase opportunities overseas. Under the rules described by the source, those players may now apply without restrictions. Applicants who are 19 years old are required to have completed two years of college.
Application forms are available online or at the PBA office in Libis. Fil-foreigners must present a valid Philippine passport. The deadline for applications is Jan. 8 at 5 pm, which leaves roughly a week of processing before draft day.
NLEX, Titan and Ginebra hold the top three slots
The final first-round order will only be confirmed at the end of the Governors' Cup. What is already assured is the top three: NLEX, picking first overall via a pick acquired from Blackwater; Titan at second; and Ginebra at third, through a pick obtained from Terrafirma.
The order is computed from each team's finishes, weighted 40 percent for the Philippine Cup and 30 percent each for the Commissioner's Cup and the Governors' Cup. Because PBA picks are tradeable, NLEX and Ginebra were able to secure their top-three positions on the first round through deals rather than the standings alone.
Names filling the applicant pool
Among the most sought-after names from recent collegiate seasons are Kymani Ladi, Nic Cabanero, Ced Manzano, JD Cagulangan, Clint Escamis, Kean Baclaan, Raven Gonzales, Cholo Anonuevo, Harold Alarcon, John Abate, Forthsky Padrigao, Jake Figueroa, Reyland Torres, Patrick Sleat, Dom Escobar and Terrence Fortea.
The graduating group includes Mason Amos, Jacob Cortez, Noy Remogat, Gani Stevens, Allen Liwag, Justine Sanchez, Kevin Santos, Travis Roberts, JC Macalalag, PJ Panacielo, Kenshin Padrones, Jorick Bautista, T-Mc Ongotan, Monty Montebon, Paul Francisco, Jimel Puno, RC Calimag, LA Casinilio, Earl Abadam, Jhomel Ancheta and Matty Erolon. Fil-foreigners DJ Fenner and Brandon Wilson are also in the conversation.
One more name remains unconfirmed. It is rumored that Remy Martin, who played on the 2022 NCAA champion Kansas varsity, may also apply. That remains speculation until an application is filed.
Analysis: why the calendar alignment changes the math
This section is analysis. A draft's depth is usually decided months before the event, by eligibility rules and school calendars rather than by late recruiting. Aligning the UAAP and NCAA seasons removes the main structural reason graduating players used to delay entry, which is why the expectation of a three-round harvest is plausible rather than promotional.
The tradeable-pick system adds a second layer. Teams holding multiple first-round selections can stack talent in one year instead of spreading it across drafts, and clubs that moved picks out are betting on future classes. That makes the order at the end of the Governors' Cup worth watching as much as the applicants themselves.
What to watch before Jan. 8
Three things will shape the final board: whether the rumored Fil-foreign and overseas-based applicants actually file, how many graduating collegiate players confirm before the 5 pm cutoff, and whether any team moves a pick once the first-round order is locked after the Governors' Cup.
The original report on the draft pool appeared in philstar.com.
