Here is our real-time updates of draft grade in this 2025 PBA draft. A lot of people look at this draft as shallow. I do not really agree with that opinion. Yes, this draft do not have a clear 10-years starter kind of guy like Baltazar and Barefield last year.
What this draft have though is a plethora of interesting prospect. When I say interesting, I am really talking about players that can end up being 10-years starter unexpectedly, like Will Navarro and JP Erram of the past.
So, in our grading system, it will be balancing the concept of best prospect available, fit to the team, level of potential and level of floor. A will be the highest, and F will be the lowest. D represents an average grade and the way we grade it, choosing the clear consensus pick is a D.
ROUND 1
#1. Terrafirma - Geo Chiu
The logic of choosing the biggest player in the draft and arguably the best center prospect is great. The quality do is not really at par of what is expected in a usual draft.
Grade: C
#2. Converge - Juan Gomez De Liano
Most of the analysts look at him as the most polish guard at the ripe young age for this draft. Can Juan finally unleash his supposed superstar potential?
Grade: C
Read Here: Converge Draft History
#3. Blackwater - Dalph Panopio
I can see the thrill of choosing this guy. Blackwater stole the guy that SMC wanted? Or was it just a smokescreen by SMC? Overall, Dalph may arguably have a higher potential than Juan.
Grade: B
#4. Northport - Chris Koon
This is very interesting. Koon is one of the most interesting guy in my eyes. He has all the quality of a Will Navarro type rise in the PBA. He played for Ateneo. He is tall. He has high IQ.
Grade: C
#5. NLEX - LJay Gonzales
I think Gonzales is a solid guard. I am not really sure about his ceiling though. Can he produce better numbers than what he has been putting up in MPBL? Probably.
Grade: D
#6. Magnolia - Yukien Andrada
It seems like they went for the best potential replacement of Will Navarro. A shooter with size. Also, it is hard to find forwards who can shoot.
Grade: A
#7. Meralco - Jason Brickman
Not that hard of a pick but if we consider the age, I am pretty sure some have questions. Brickman can arguably start as a top 5 PG in the league and for a title contender like Meralco, that is a great thing!
Grade: B
#8. Phoenix - Will Gozum
Phoenix suddenly ended up drafting a player that is also worthy of the #2 pick that they gave up to Converge. Now, this is not that hard of a pick. Arguably, he is clearly the best player available at this point.
Grade: D
Read Here: Meralco Draft History
#9. San Miguel - Chris Miller
San Miguel went with the supposed proven commodity in Miller. Is he as good as Holt? If he is, then San Miguel is easily a winner of this draft.
Grade: A
#10. Rain or Shine - Christian Manaytay
A guy that is moldable into a starting caliber forward. Maybe, he can be a taller Jhonard Clarito. At this point of the draft, there is no clear consensus.
Grade: B
#11. Ginebra - Sonny Estil
So, the draft combine MVP performance of Estil pushed him here! That will boost the importance of the combine in the future but with what I saw, I think there are other clearer bets here.
Grade: E
#12. Rain or Shine - Art Roque
I think Rain or Shine went with a type of prospect that they usually mold into a long-term PBA player. But I think, there are clearer better choices here.
Grade: F
ROUND 2
#1 Ginebra - Mario Barasi
Is Ladis Lepalam that slow for Barasi to even be chosen first? Is Dave Ando really that wash up for Mario to be chosen here?
Grade: E
#2. Phoenix - Dave Ando
Do not be fooled with the grades of Phoenix. They just continue to choose the obvious best available prospect available. Although, this is not as obvious as the Gozum pick.
Grade: C
#3. Blackwater - Ximone Sandagon
He is a hardworking player but his unwillingness to develop his outside shot put a lot of questions on him.
Grade: D
#4. Northport - CJ Austria
Northport has the clearest need for a point guard but they continue to choose wing/forward players. Austria has a good pedigree.
Grade: C
#5. NLEX - Arvin Gamboa
NCAA players are dominating this draft. Arvin fills up the stat sheet in MPBL but the efficiency is not that good.
Grade: E
#6. Terrafirma - Shawn Umali
Big body guys who are skilled usually plays well in the PBA. I do not think Umali will be an exception. Is he an obvious pick here? I do not think that is the case.
Grade: B
#7. Meralco - Vince Magbuhos
He has hype entering this draft and even anointed as a shooter. Numbers do not back that up. What makes him a good bet though is his defense.
Grade: D
#8. Rain or Shine - Mark Omega
Omega is your typical bigman that plays traditional. There is nothing special but coach Yeng is a good option to bring out something special out of him.
Grade: E
#9. Converge - Kobe Monje
He is my favorite out of the guys without hype that entered this draft. Here are his numbers on the ongoing MPBL season: 11.8 points, 52% FG, 6.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. The efficiency of his play in a league that allows great player to play wild could imply that Kobe is something special.
Grade: A
#10. Rain or Shine - Deo Cuajao
Deo is an explosive scorer in NCAA. If he can keep his above average shooting and improve his defense, Rain or Shine could be force to give him a slot.
Grade: C
#11. Ginebra - Cedrick Abis
It seems like this is the Perpetual pick gift for the current face of the franchise, Scottie Thompson. Abis is a hardworking rebounder as a wing but other than that, I am not sure if he is the better pick over Dumont, Micek or Capulong.
Grade: D
#12. Rain or Shine - Joshua David
There is no way Cole Micek was not at least in the 2nd round. David is a good choice at this point of the draft but Micek was there.
Grade: E
Read Here: Ginebra Draft History
Comments
Post a Comment