The road to the 2023 PBA Draft or the PBA Season 48 Draft is a bit weird.
For starters, we see draft applicants playing in PBA teams. Now we have experienced pro-bound applicants competing in PBA-produced tournaments in the past like when the Northern Consolidated Cement squad won the 1985 PBA Reinforced Conference. Aside from future San Miguel players Hector Calma, Franz Pumaren, Yves Dignadice, Alfie Almario, Elmer Reyes, Tonichi Yturri, and Pido Jarencio, the team also had the likes of Allan Caidic, Rey Cuenco, Al Solis, Naning Valenciano, Leo Austria, and Teddy Alfarero. Caidic and Cuenco are former top draft picks while Solis is a former second-overall pick and Alfarero was a former third-overall pick.
In 2002, the PBA gave a bunch of players a chance to compete for national team spots via the RP-Hapee and RP-Selecta pool. Jimmy Alapag barely saw action for Selecta due to injury and this is the reason why he slid down to tenth in the 2003 PBA Draft. Former MBA stars Chris Clay and Jeffrey Flowers also got to see action in Selecta while perennial ABC All-Star Rommel Adducul is part of Hapee.
And of course, who can forget the events that transpired during the 2009-10 PBA Philippine Cup?
I bet Wynne Arboleda can’t!
Anyway, what I am trying to say is that while some players like Chris Tiu, Mark Barroca, JV Casio, Mac Baracael, and Marcio Lassiter have seen action before they were drafted, the PBA On Tour has given the draft prospects a chance to strut their wares playing for actual PBA teams.
I also said the current setup is weird because aside from the PBA On Tour, you have the MPBL, UAAP, NCAA, PBA D-League, US NCAA, ABL, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and a couple of leagues in Southeast Asia to check out. The D-League, virtually the league that succeeded the PBL, is now known as a testing ground for college teams rather than a step further for the top prospects.
At the moment, we still don’t know the players that are going to apply from the draft apart from the notables.
The game starts now.
FIRST ROUND
1 | TERRAFIRMA DYIP – SEDRICK BAREFIELD
COLLEGE: UTAH STATE AGGIES
TEAMS: OKLAHOMA CITY BLUE (2022), TAINAN TSG GHOSTHAWKS (2022), THE STRONG GROUP (2023), BAY AREA DRAGONS (2023), SEYDOU LEGACY (2023)
Not only did Barefield go to Hong Kong, Dubai, and Taiwan to keep himself in game shape, but he also played as an import for Guinea in the BAL. I think that the PBA is his next stop because of job security – although I doubt if he’s going to be happy losing a lot of games and subsequently a lot of teammates nearing the end or after this season (due to Terrafirma’s conduit nature). And if Barefield decides to do a Roosevelt Adams and a Jordan Heading, they can always keep his rights with Team Dyip having three picks in the first round. Barefield is a legit import and while I know Terrafirma should look for size rather than a combo guard, they could have a great scoring punch combo with Barefield and Juami Tiongson. I know this Terrafirma move will have repercussions in the Philippine Cup but it also gives them an advantage during the import-laden conference (I forgot the conference they are going to keep) especially if Barefield turns out to be a player in the mold of Stanley Pringle.
2 | BLACKWATER BOSSING – KOBE PARAS
COLLEGE: UP FIGHTING MAROONS
TEAMS: NAIIGITA ALBIREX BB (2021-22), ALTIRI CHIBA (2022-23)
In some ways, selecting Paras over Balti is weird, especially with how Paras’ stock has fallen since leaving UP and how Baltazar’s game has evolved. Ever since he moved to the United States to play for UCLA, he has bounced from school to school and from team to team. With that said, the PBA teams are still considered advertising arms for a given product. Again, I am taking the Chris Tiu route in Kobe so that his entry to the team can give their brand a workable image model. Also, it’s not like Paras is bad. Kobe is a draw and if he can still hop and slam like an insane madman, then there’s a chance for Blackwater to increase their fans. A couple of years back, Blackwater took Andre Paras in the third round and despite his super short pro career, was able to score a better career than Blackwater’s second-round pick Mark Acuno and other players picked ahead of him. Blackwater’s conduit history could set up Kobe to an MVP team soon but if he can’t hold on to one team, he might as well have a good fallback to lean on.
3 | RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO PAINTERS – JUSTINE BALTAZAR
COLLEGE: DLSU GREEN ARCHERS
TEAMS: PAMPANGA DELTA (2022), HIROSHIMA DRAGONFLIES (2022), PAMPANGA GIANT LANTERNS (2023)
I know Balti can either go first, second, or third in this draft but I see his career soaring to new heights as a member of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. In terms of whether or not Baltazar is going to be a player in the PBA, the fact of the matter is, he’s going to be a superstar given the right program. The former DLSU Green Archer has been posting insane numbers for the MPBL’s Pampanga Giant Lanterns and it’s probably a good thing for ROS to have a legit inside threat. Yeng Guiao needs to find a way to get this guy – even to the point of swapping with at least Blackwater in a package to include their top second-round selection.
4 | RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO PAINTERS – THIRDY RAVENA
COLLEGE: ATENEO BLUE EAGLES
TEAMS: SANEN NEOPHOENIX (2020-PRESENT), GILAS PILIPINAS TRAINING POOL (2023)
Rain or Shine has a pretty solid young core at the moment and I can see Yeng Guiao using the selection to pick a big player in terms of experience and trade value. This could go either way with Guiao “settling” with Thirdy Ravena or getting someone like Rhenz Abando, RJ Abarrientos, or Dwight Ramos. With teams getting a couple of diamonds in the rough in the other leagues as well as in the PBA On Tour and with Guiao's penchant to create superstars from no-namers, I believe that Rain or Shine will use this pick to grab an international talent. But the reason why I pinpointed Thirdy here is that at 26, he might need a PBA fallback to lean on. The former Ateneo guard has been with San-En since 2020 and they have yet to win a Japanese B-League title. Guiao is notorious for making star players change their game and even to water down their minutes but in the case of his brother in NLEX, that was not the case.
5 | NORTHPORT BATANG PIER – RHENZ ABANDO
COLLEGE: LETRAN KNIGHTS
TEAMS: SAN JUAN KNIGHTS (2021), ANYANG KGC (2022-PRESENT), GILAS PILIPINAS TRAINING POOL (2023)
I see Northport being contented with the development of Fran Yu. With that said, I can still see Northport going for a big deal in the draft. Abando is one of those international players that found the PBA’s new rule to be good – since it gives the international player a Plan B just in case the offers dry up. There is a chance that the former NCAA MVP can see action for Gilas in the 2023 FIBA World Cup which could skyrocket his popularity. Yes, Bonnie Tan is the new Northport coach but his new team also has a history of playing conduit to SMC teams. His rights could come in handy just in case Ginebra wants to trade a part-time starter and a couple of second-round draft picks. But Abando, a player who takes his game above the rim in both offense and defense, should have an insurance policy team in the PBA.
6 | NLEX ROAD WARRIORS – CJ LANE
COLLEGE: EASTERN ILLINOIS PANTHERS
It’s been a while since we had a draft mystery man and while the advent of Youtube has messed up some of their mixed tapes, the prospect of scoring a 6’10 point-forward is enticing. CJ Lane could be the second coming of Mike Hrabak – but this time, we are accepting the idea of a big man patrolling the three-point line. In some ways, the Road Warriors have incoming sophomore Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser to protect the shaded area and it’s not like NLEX has a shortage in combo guards. The biggest flaw in Lane at the moment is other than his Gilas scrimmages and DLSU gameplay back when Ben Mbala was still fresh in the minds of Pinoy basketball aficionados, Lane has yet to see action in a pro or semi-pro league – at least as far as online documentation is concerned.
7 | PHOENIX SUPER LPG FUEL MASTERS – SCHONNY WINSTON
COLLEGE: DLSU GREEN ARCHERS
TEAMS: ECOOIL-LA SALLE (2022), GILAS PILIPINAS TRAINING POOL (2023)
This selection is a possible Rookie of the Year spot. Last season, second-rounders Tyler Tio and Encho Serrano were able to finish their rookie campaigns with double-digit averages because of the team’s lack of supporting characters. Yes, it can also be attributed to their great gameplay but it’s easy to differentiate their roster with the likes of the SMC and MVP teams. Now, we add the fact that the Fuel Masters lost Matthew Wright to Japan and Encho Serrano to Pampanga. This puts Phoenix on a spot and they’ll probably need a combo guard like Winston to deliver the goods. Winston's stock may have sagged since he has yet to play any semi-pro ball but is also part of the Gilas Pilipinas pool. This is even better, especially if Winston makes the team and gives a good showing.
8 | MERALCO BOLTS – WILL GOZUM
COLLEGE: BENILDE BLAZERS
TEAMS: THE STRONG GROUP (2023), QUEZON HUSKERS (2023)
Reports state that Will Gozum is going to return to the Benilde Blazers to perhaps end his NCAA career with a championship. It’s a good way to go, especially with Letran losing most of their players to graduation. After a stellar Game 2, Gozum lost focus in Game 3 and I guess Gozum is hellbent for payback. I know I should be writing about the skills that he needs to elevate to the pros but like Calvin Abueva, Scottie Thompson, Leo Najorda, and others before him, NCAA players can finish their school obligations even if they are already drafted in the PBA. I know this pick is too deep for a college MVP like Gozum but we have seen the likes of Najorda and Enrico Villanueva in similar spots. The retirement of Reynel Hugnatan and the appointment of Luigi Trillo as Meralco's coach is a good thing for Gozum.
9 | CONVERGE FIBERXERS – LUIS VILLEGAS
COLLEGE: UE RED WARRIORS
TEAMS: TNT 3X3 (2023)
I get why people are high on him. He is a big man that packs a mean outside punch. He has also seen action for TNT’s 3X3 squad ever since completing his one-and-done obligations. If I have to choose between Villegas and Will Gozum, I’ll probably go with Gozum. With that said, if the former UE Red Warrior drops to ninth, then Converge will have a big problem finding a way to keep Justin Arana, Barkley Ebona, Jeo Ambohot, Keith Zaldivar, and this guy happy with their playing time. While Arana is virtually untouchable at the center spot, Ambohot struggled during his rookie year with Ebona trying to get back into rookie season form. This is the perfect chance for this Filipino American to fast-track his superstar status. If Villegas can be the refined version of both Ambohot and Ebona, then Aldin Ayo will have no choice but to play him as often as he can.
10 | CONVERGE FIBERXERS – RICCI RIVERO
COLLEGE: UP FIGHTING MAROONS
TEAMS: TAOYUAN PILOTS (2022)
Aldin Ayo has nothing but love for his former players and you can see it in their current PBA On Tour roster. This is why I can see Ricci Rivero getting the nod at either the ninth or the tenth spot. Like Kobe Paras, the actor can also become a brand ambassador. With that said, Rivero can also become a spark plug for the FiberXers. Playing for the UP Fighting Maroons, Rivero would score clutch bombs, ram the inside to score a hard-earned basket, and is willing to ground and pound with the enemy bigs. Now I don’t know if conditioning is going to be a factor and I guess his current controversy might have mental repercussions, but if he’s hellbent to make a name for himself, a team should have him instead of playing against him.
And yeah, just like what I did with Northport and Rain Shine, there is a chance that I see Converge selecting an international player. However, the FiberXers also need to invest in a win-now mode because of all the teams outside the SMC and MVP, they are the best team to take their game to the next level.
11 | NORTHPORT BATANG PIER – FRAN YU
COLLEGE: LETRAN KNIGHTS
TEAMS: WANGS-LETRAN (2022), SAN JUAN KNIGHTS (2023), NORTHPORT (2023)
Of course, Northport has to pick Fran Yu at this point. Yes, Northport can select Mr. Fran-tastic at the fifth spot of the first round, but it can also be a way for the Batang Pier to strengthen their future especially if the international players are available. With that said, Fran Yu is someone Bonnie Tan needs to keep from the PBA On Tour lineup. Slowly, Yu emerged to be a key addition to bolster Northport’s gameplay with his timely attacks and his penchant to gel with his teammates. I saw how Yu conspired with JM Calma with their high-low plays and how he takes care of the playmaking chores to give Joshua Munzon an attack dog mindset. The loss of Robert Bolick to Japan is crazy but it also gives Northport a more traditional guard setup. Again, I want Northport to keep a potential international find but if losing Yu is going to be a big deal for them, then he has earned the right to get the fifth spot of the draft.
12 | TERRAFIRMA DYIP – ZAVIER LUCERO
COLLEGE: UP FIGHTING MAROONS
With the last pick of the first round and the first pick of the second round, I can see Terrafirma looking at the likes of James Kwekuteye, Louie Sangalang, Kemark Carino, and Henry Gallinato with possible sneaky looks to the likes of Brent Paraiso, King Caralipio, Harvey Pagsanjan, Sherwin Concepcion, and JB Bahio. I know I’ll have a lot of eyebrows raised to the heavens with how deep Lucero is rated here but I also believe that Terrafirma is a great landing spot for the former Fighting Maroon. If Terrafirma plays their cards right, they have the capability of arming their selves with a credible starting five in the draft. Lucero is a good one-and-done player that should have ended his career as a champion, not for his injury. His game also quieted down after the UAAP Finals and while it’s because he is looking at possible international opportunities, being in this spot isn’t a bad thing. As I said, if Terrafirma decides to create a pro basketball team than a virtual PBA Lazada/Shopee – where actual competitive teams can get their players at super awesome discounts – then they better hope Lucero is still available at number 12.
SECOND ROUND
13 | TERRAFIRMA DYIP – LOUIE SANGALANG
COLLEGE: LETRAN KNIGHTS
TEAMS: WANGS-LETRAN (2022), PAMPANGA GIANT LANTERNS (2023)
Terrafirma needs a bullish big man who wants the spotlight on his face and if you didn’t see Letran in NCAA Season 98, then you are missing out on Louie Sangalang. No relation to Ian Sangalang, this tongue-wagging Pampangueno is just brimming with confidence. You can turn him into a post-up threat or a goon and he’s going to give you the best results. Sangalang is part of Letran’s three-peat and in his final year, he showed his importance on both offense and defense. Aside from the top pick, Terrafirma needs to develop the scoring strengths of Isaac Go. Sangalang is going to be a great compliment since he gets his points on rebounds and putbacks. Sangalang is also a leader and while it would be awesome to have him and Brent Paraiso creating some sort of bad-boy collective in the PBA, Terrafirma will have a possible steal in their hands if they manage to snag this former Letran standout.
14 | NLEX ROAD WARRIORS – KEMARK CARINO
COLLEGE: SAN BEDA RED LIONS
TEAMS: AOMORI WATTS (2021-22), ZAMBOANGA VALIENTES (2023)
I know NLEX took another big man in this draft but Kemark Carino can either be a stash or a steal if the NLEX Road Warriors play their cards right. Carino started as a raw Gilas cadet and he is currently an inside-outside threat to the teams he has played in. As I said, the 6’8 shooting big is a downright luxury, especially for a team in need of size. With Frankie Lim in the NLEX driver seat, it’s a race between Meralco and NLEX to claim a championship. They have the backers but they can’t get the championship. In the last two seasons, the MVP teams have switched their coaches with TNT the only team delivering. NLEX is in need to repeat their days in the D-League and the acquisition of a player like Carino is a positive step towards that drive.
15 | RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO PAINTERS – KING CARALIPIO
COLLEGE: LETRAN KNIGHTS
TEAMS: ZAMBOANGA FAMILY BRAND SARDINES (2023)
All I can say about this pick is that unless Yeng Guiao finds a way to get Don Trollano back on his lineup, then he has to settle for the next best thing. King Caralipio’s timely decisions, whenever the ball finds its way into his hands, made him an easy choice for NCAA Season 98 Finals MVP award. Averaging nearly 12 points and 9 rebounds during his final year with the Knights, Caralipio can be a positive blank space in the sense that Guiao can use him as an enforcer or energy guy off the bench. And the reason why I tagged him as a Trollano rather than a Jireh Ibanes is that if you look at his NCAA numbers (when it becomes available), you’ll find that Caralipio improves his game every season.
16 | PHOENIX SUPER LPG FUEL MASTERS – JAMES KWEKUTEYE
COLLEGE: SAN BEDA RED LIONS
TEAMS: ZAMBOANGA FAMILY BRAND SARDINES (2023), BACOOR STRIKERS (2023)
I feel uneasy that I’m placing the San Beda Red Lion on this list because I feel he is better than where I placed him. With that said Phoenix can use all the help it can get. Yes, I know I chose Schonny Winston for Phoenix in the first round but I think the void left by Matthew Wright and Encho Serrano is that damning. After NCAA Season 98, Kwekuteye veered away from a lot of San Beda activities – choosing a stint in the ABL and with the Bacoor Strikers in the MPBL instead of playing for their D-League team. Kwekuteye can create his shots and can play multiple positions. If he lands in this part of the draft, whoever gets him got a gift to punish the teams that snubbed him.
17 | BLACKWATER BOSSINGS – CADE FLORES
COLLEGE: ARELLANO CHIEFS
TEAMS: PAMPANGA ROYCE HOTEL (2023)
Arellano’s one-and-done player may be headed to the PBA either at the moment or after NCAA 99 (although it could be the former as it stands right now). Flores is like the NCAA’s version of Zav Lucero and I can see him doing great things if he is given the avenue to make waves. I guess the problem with him right now is that he doesn’t have enough EXP to break the first round. In some ways though, Blackwater can give a roster spot to a project. And it’s not like Flores will just be a raw player until the end of time. The guy went from Team B in FEU to MVP candidate in the NCAA. As mentioned, if given the right opportunity, expect Flores to become a good find for Blackwater this deep in the draft.
18 | CONVERGE FIBERXERS – JOLO MENDOZA
COLLEGE: ATENEO BLUE EAGLES
TEAMS: RIZAL GOLDEN COOLERS (2023)
This former national team standout went from top high school baller to benchwarming hell during his time with the Ateneo Blue Eagles. With that said, Mendoza capped his UAAP career with a multitude of championships. And now in the PBA On Tour, he is trying to make the best out of the situation given to him by Converge. This is why Converge is a perfect fit for Mendoza. Here, he is getting his confidence back and the FiberXers are using the exhibition tour as a way to perfect their game. And in this situation, Mendoza is getting time as an actual member of the squad. Yes, getting picked this deep and becoming the third Converge draftee is bad at all levels but unlike the potential first-rounders, Mendoza has logged time with the squad and has gotten attuned to their program.
19 | PHOENIX SUPER LPG FUEL MASTERS – RAFFY VERANO
COLLEGE: ATENEO BLUE EAGLES
TEAMS: PRETTY HUGE (2022), PAMPANGA ROYCE HOTEL (2023), QUEZON HUSKERS (2023)
I believe that Raffy Verano should have applied for the PBA Draft a season ago. Apart from a couple of first-round bombs, it feels like the superstars of the class are in the second round. With that said, this is exactly why Raffy Verano needs to go to Blackwater. Since Justin Arana, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, and Jeremiah Gray has performed well for their teams, the Rookie of the Year award needs to go to either Ato Ular or Tyler Tio. Tio and Verano are former teammates and just like Ular, Verano spent a year in the MPBL to raise his stock. As one of the top guns of the Quezon Huskers, Verano can replicate what Ular did to Blackwater during his rookie season and possibility give the Fuel Masters a winning attitude as well. The only problem I can see for the Atenean is how can perfect his combo forward play despite his 6’3 height.
20 | BLACKWATER BOSSINGS – KEITH DATU
COLLEGE: CHICO STATE
TEAMS: J & T EXPRESS (2022), WILCON DEPOT
With his height and with his credentials, some might scoff at how I ranked Keith Datu. Yes, of course, teams will give this 6’8 beanpole a chance to flourish. With that said, I can’t help that he’s going to be a project. We have seen a lot of big Fil-Ams turn into projects because they can’t handle the PBA system and while Datu has impressed in the PBA 3X3 games, we have barely seen him in the actual five-on-five game in the Philippines. Yes, I know he has played a bunch of five-on-five games but at his size and given his availability, he should have at least garnered a SEA Games roster or a Mighty Sports/Strong Group stint at best. Blackwater needs size and if Datu is that good, he’s going to be the center this team has been ogling for some time now.
21 | TNT TROPANG GIGA – JB BAHIO
COLLEGE: SAN BEDA RED LIONS
TEAMS: TNT TROPANG GIGA (2023)
I think the reason why TNT spammed their San Beda OJTs is to check the players that could fit their system. Granted, most of these names have a year left to play in the NCAA, the same can’t be said with JB Bahio. The lengthy beanpole is a great find if he plays for the squad because they need to upgrade their size. Not to disrespect TNT’s bigs, but while Glenn Khobuntin has been a revelation, Justin Chua is probably out of the next season after suffering an ACL injury. Bahio is a double-double machine in San Beda and if TNT decides to get a big man at this spot, that player is probably going to have a possible field day in terms of playing time.
22 | TERRAFIRMA DYIP - BRENT PARAISO
COLLEGE: LETRAN KNIGHTS
TEAMS: TNT TROPANG GIGA (2023)
The only reason why I have Brent Paraiso this low is because I want a Brent Paraiso/Louie Sangalang tag team in the pros and it’s hard for a player to develop especially if he’s already 28 years old. Paraiso is one of those players that should have entered the PBA a season ago but during his time in Letran, this guy developed swagger. With that said, he can also be a game changer for the team that would use his services wisely. Paraiso would taunt players and coaches in the NCAA while providing clutch bombs for the three-peat champs. Terrafirma is a team that needs these kinds of players in their team, especially with how crappy their PBA stay has been.
23 | BARANGAY GINEBRA KINGS – HENRY GALINATO
COLLEGE: UP FIGHTING MAROONS
I initially had Kim Aurin here. With that said, I think there’s something about his game that could get the Kings to try for other acts. For starters, I don’t know if Kim Aurin can replicate his gunner days in Perpetual. I don’t know if he needs to have more 5v5 pro experience (or semi-pro as part of an MPBL team) but his moves are still suspect. So I have Henry Galinato as a good choice for the Kings especially now that the unfortunate injury to Jeremiah Gray is going to force the Kings to check out their options. While Gray is more of a wing, the Kings are in need to pad height, especially with Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar on the wrong side of 30. This will also give Tim Cone a viable option in case they want an option off the bench other than Sidney Onwubere and Raymond Aguilar. Ginebra hasn’t had a great rookie find since Arvin Tolentino in 2019 and I think Galinato could be a steal at this point of the draft.
24 | RAIN OR SHINE ELASTO PAINTERS – BJ ANDRADE
COLLEGE: ATENEO BLUE EAGLES
TEAMS: THE STRONG GROUP (2023)
In some ways, I doubt if Rain or Shine would want a fourth rookie – especially if they used both of their first-round picks for a “play now” player. With that said, I think BJ Andrade has a chance to impress at this spot. While he must find a way to improve on the other aspects of his game, sometimes at this point of the draft, it’s better to pick role players than superstars because those players aren’t as versatile. Andrade more or less was a key second stringer in Ateneo and he could either give the team an extra spunk off the bench or defend like hell against the opposing players. Yeng Guiao also rewards the players that would go the extra mile to help his team win. And speaking of winning, Andrade is one of those players that would sacrifice his stats for the sake of winning. With these attributes, either we can see him getting picked higher or we can see him getting a PBA spot despite a third-round selection.
I don’t know if I am the best person to write about the draft but ever since I jotted down the first live draft I watched back when Vintage was still in Channel 4, I have been looking forward to the spectacle. One of the main things I’ve noticed during these proceedings is that you can’t predict what teams are looking for. There was a time when Ginebra was seriously in need of a big player and they kept getting a shooting guard for some reason. Also, when Tim Cone was still coaching Alaska, there was a time when he would spam his selections on big men.
The point is mock drafts are predictions rather than spoilers. I purposely left Kim Aurin off the current list but I can see some of the names I placed going to the third round in favor of Brandon Bates, Kyle Toth, Kyt Jimenez, John Amores, Ken Tuffin, Sherwin Concepcion, CJ Payawal, Tommy Olivario, Christian David, Warren Bonifacio, Forthsky Padrigao, John Lloyd Clemente, Joshua Fontanilla, and others.
There is also a chance that the international players might snub the proceedings. If the four names snub the draft, then I have Bates, Bonifacio, Toth, and Aurin improving their draft stock. Bonifacio needs to have a great farewell season to breach a second-round mention. I honestly see some kind of Alvin Patrimonio in his moveset but Mapua went from finalist to cellar dweller despite having a virtually-intact lineup. With Bates, I know he’s playing for the Sutherland Sharks but I don’t know how his game would translate in the PBA. The same can be said with Toth. If they are that good, and I hope I am not offending anybody, then they should have garnered some sort of Gilas roster buzz. Aurin and possibly Olivario are sure Ginebra and Northport players (unless they are picked higher) but I don’t what kind of team are they going to end up. Aurin can be a reserve player, especially with the injury to Jeremiah Gray but for the former Letran Knight, Olivario could hone his 3X3 game.
The best landing spots are still the conduit squads but Terrafirma, Northport, and Phoenix are the teams that would serve as a haven for potential superstars. With that said, NLEX, TNT, and Meralco are teams in need of key pieces. Ginebra, Magnolia, and San Miguel are draft traps but at least they have no first or second-round selections.
Anyway, I am going to update this when the PBA releases its official list.