RANKING THE SMC TEAMS ACCORDING TO WHO NEEDS TERRAFIRMA’S #1 PICK THE MOST
For years, rumors of Terrafirma being a "farm team" in the PBA have loomed over every draft day and trade deadline. Critics argue that their moves often benefit powerhouse teams, particularly those under the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) umbrella. Now, as talks circulate that Terrafirma is lowering its franchise price in hopes of attracting a buyer, speculation intensifies that the Dyip could be setting up one final blockbuster trade—shipping out the almost-guaranteed #1 overall pick in the upcoming PBA Draft.
This would not be unprecedented. Terrafirma has made a habit of selecting the top talent only to trade them away shortly after: CJ Perez, Roosevelt Adams, and Joshua Munzon all come to mind. If history repeats itself, one of the SMC teams might soon be landing another future star on a silver platter.
Here’s a look at which SMC team needs Terrafirma’s #1 pick the most, ranked from least to most desperate:
#3 — Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
Ginebra, for all its star power and championship pedigree, has already benefited from the draft in a way other SMC teams haven’t. In last year’s draft, they selected Stephen Holt Abarrientos with the third overall pick—the highest draft selection any SMC team has had in recent memory.
The Gin Kings are also stacked. Justin Brownlee’s expected return, along with Jamie Malonzo, Scottie Thompson, Christian Standhardinger, and Japeth Aguilar (when healthy), makes Ginebra a perennial title contender. Their system under Tim Cone may be demanding, but it works best with experienced, system-smart players—something not always guaranteed with rookies.
Bottom line: Ginebra can live without the #1 pick. They’re built to win now, not rebuild.
#2 — San Miguel Beermen
The Beermen have recently retooled in silence, adding Juami Tiongson, JM Calma, and Rashawn McCarthy through trades, along with veteran reinforcements like Chris Cahilig. Though they remain contenders with Junemar Fajardo still anchoring the middle, age is catching up to their core. Fajardo, Chris Ross, and Marcio Lassiter aren’t getting any younger.
Landing the #1 pick would allow them to pair their aging stars with a cornerstone for the next generation—someone who can learn from Junemar while slowly taking the torch. However, it’s not urgent. The Beermen still have enough to make deep playoff runs.
Bottom line: SMB would benefit greatly from the #1 pick, but they don’t need it as badly as others.
#1 — Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots
Among the SMC teams, Magnolia is the most deprived of top-tier draft talent. Despite consistently being a top-four team, they have never successfully landed the #1 overall pick through trade or the lottery. Their roster is built around veterans like Paul Lee, Ian Sangalang, Mark Barroca, and Calvin Abueva—most of whom are past their prime or battling injuries.
They made a promising move by acquiring Zav Lucero, but if the Hotshots are serious about winning a title in the near future while securing long-term success, they need an infusion of elite, young talent. Magnolia has done well with what they’ve had, but the ceiling is shrinking.
The roster is also not as deep or loaded as Ginebra’s, which means a top rookie could actually get meaningful minutes and develop within the system. This makes them the ideal destination for a #1 pick.
Bottom line: Magnolia needs that pick to avoid stagnation—and this might be their only real shot.
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