2024 PBA Draft: A pool filled with talent

THE 2024 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Draft night on Sunday was one of the deepest and most crowded selection classes in previous years for the prestigious Asian basketball league. 

With 48 players selected at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati, it’s clear that this draft year was stocked with fresh talent who would help the league transition in the coming years. 

As the oldest league in Asia witnesses several retirements from former top players, and a reduction in viewership as the number of spectators decreases year after year, there is hope that this batch will bring them back.

Justin Baltazar goes to Converge

Despite being one of the late draft hopefuls, Justine Baltazar, a highly regarded De La Salle University Green Archers draftee, was named Converge’s top pick. 

The 6-ft-9 big man has an impressive resume, having been a three-time UAAP Mythical Team member, a Japan B.League player, and the reigning Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) champion and Most Valuable Player.

“Sobrang excited ako sa bagong team na Converge. Gagawin ko lang yung role ko sa team. Sobrang excited din ako maging kakampi si Justin (Arana). Mukhang magiging magandang tandem kaming dalawa,” he said.

However, his debut with the FiberXers may be impeded by his existing MPBL contract with the battling Pampanga Giant Lanterns, and he will be eligible to play for Converge only in December. 

First round’s twists and turns

Aside from Baltazar, there were other major names in the draft pool who didn’t go undrafted. Former Oklahoma City Blue Sedrick Barefield was Blackwater’s second overall pick. 

RJ Abarrientos, the third overall pick in the Terrafirma trade, unexpectedly rose in the draft boards and will play for Barangay Ginebra under Tim Cone’s system.

Meanwhile, Phoenix drafted Kai Ballungay fourth, NorthPort drafted Dave Ildefonso fifth, NLEX drafted Jonnel Policarpi sixth, and Rain or Shine drafted Caelan Tiongson and Felix Lemmeti seventh and eighth. 

Rounding out the first round were Jerom Lastimosa to Magnolia at ninth, Mark Nonoy to Terrafirma at tenth, CJ Cansino to reigning champions Meralco at eleventh, and Avan Nava to San Miguel at twelfth. 

Considering how talented the draft pool was, the second round was still stacked with talented players. Here’s the remainder of the PBA Season 49 Draft list:

Second Round

13. Rain or Shine – Francis Escandor

14. NorthPort – Evan Nelle

15. Terrafirma – CJ Catapusan 

16. Rain or Shine – Mike Malonzo

17. Barangay Ginebra – Didat Hanapi

18. NLEX – Brandon Ramirez

19. Converge – Pao Javillonar

20. Rain or Shine – Miggy Corteza

21. Converge – Ben Phillips

22. Barangay Ginebra – Pao Hernandez

23. Meralco – Kurt Reyson

24. Converge – Jason Credo

Third Round

25. Converge – Ronan Santos

26. Blackwater – DJ Mitchell

27. Terrafirma – Peter Alfaro

28. Phoenix – CJ Payawal

29. NorthPort – Agem Miranda

30. NLEX – Xyrus Torres

31. TNT – Jared Brown

32. Rain or Shine – Darwish Bederi

33. Magnolia – RV Berjay

34. Barangay Ginebra – Paul Garcia

35. Meralco – JP Maguliano

36. San Miguel – Abdul Sawat

Fourth Round

37. Converge – Pass

38. Blackwater – Keith Pido

39. Terrafirma – Pass

40. Phoenix – Chino Mosqueda

41. NorthPort – John Uduba

42. NLEX – Denzel Wong

43. TNT – Mark Niel Cruz

44. Rain or Shine – Pass

45. Magnolia – Ry Dela Rosa

46. Barangay Ginebra – Pass

47. Meralco – Jordan Bartlett

48. San Miguel – Ralph Robin

Fifth Round

49. Converge – Pass

50. Blackwater – Pass

51. Terrafirma – Pass

52. Phoenix – Patrick Feliciano

53. NorthPort – Germy Mahinay

54. NLEX – Adrian Partosa

55. TNT – Pass

56. Rain or Shine – Pass

57. Magnolia – Pass

58. Barangay Ginebra – Pass

59. Meralco – Pass

60. San Miguel – Pass