The 2025-2026 PBA season has delivered a fascinating rookie class. Instead of a uniform group of fresh college graduates, this year’s crop features a wild mix of highly-touted international prospects, seasoned veterans finally making their PBA debut, and gritty local standouts proving they belong on the big stage.
As we head into the back half of the calendar, the Rookie of the Year picture is starting to crystallize. While one player has seemingly run away with the award, the race for the remaining spots highlights the diverse influx of talent in the league today.
Here are the top 5 contenders for the 2025-2026 PBA Rookie of the Year award.
#5. Dalph Panopio (Blackwater Bossing)
When a player enters the draft with European basketball pedigree and significant international hype, expectations naturally skyrocket. Is Dalph Panopio meeting the stratospheric hype that preceded his arrival? Probably not right now. But evaluating him purely on immediate box-score dominance misses the point of his rookie campaign.
Panopio is incredibly young and is adjusting to the unique physicality and pacing of the PBA. What he has shown are brilliant flashes of high-level basketball IQ and court vision. He is going through the expected growing pains of a young floor general, but there is zero doubt that he is a surefire future core piece for the Blackwater Bossing. The timeline is long with Panopio, and securing a top-five spot on this list is a nod to his immense upside.
Calling Jason Brickman a "rookie" feels like a technicality, given his extensive and decorated career in the ABL and other international leagues. Because of his resume, many expected Brickman to instantly dominate the PBA assist charts and orchestrate a flawless offense.
The reality? Father Time remains undefeated. It seems his age might be catching up to him, preventing him from being the transcendent, 40-minute dynamo fans envisioned. However, a "declining" Jason Brickman is still a highly effective PBA point guard. Averaging 8.3 points and 4.6 assists per game, he brings a calming, veteran presence to the floor. It may not be the MVP-level production some hoped for, but it is a very good, steady level of play that easily earns him a spot in the top four.
#3. LJ Gonzales (NLEX Road Warriors)
If there is one word to describe LJ Gonzales’ rookie campaign, it’s fearless. Stepping into an NLEX rotation that already features ball-dominant guards like Robert Bolick and dynamic wings like Deschon Winston is no easy task, but Gonzales has carved out a crucial role for himself.
Gonzales doesn't just play garbage time; he has been on the floor during the highest-leverage moments of the tournament and has delivered a slew of clutch plays. He possesses a rugged, downhill attacking style and a defensive tenacity that perfectly fits the Road Warriors' identity. Gonzales looks like the real deal, proving that he isn't just a rotation piece, but a legitimate building block for NLEX's future.
#2. Geo Chiu (Terrafirma Dyip)
You cannot teach size, and Geo Chiu is proving exactly why Terrafirma was so desperate to finally get him on the floor. After a period of waiting, Chiu has suited up for the Dyip, and his impact in the paint has been undeniable.
Chiu is a massive presence, and he knows how to use his frame to clear out space and protect the glass. Averaging 7.2 points and an incredible 10.1 rebounds per game, he is doing exactly what a rebuilding team needs a young big man to do: anchor the interior and secure possessions. Averaging double-digit rebounds as a rookie in a league dominated by massive imports and veteran enforcers is a massive achievement. Chiu has successfully translated his collegiate potential into highly effective PBA production.
Let’s not overcomplicate this. At this point in the season, there is simply no other rookie who can catch Juan Gomez de Liano.
JGDL entered the PBA with a pro-ready game polished by his stints overseas, and it has translated flawlessly. He plays with a level of swagger, pace, and offensive polish that separates him entirely from the rest of his draft class. Whether it’s creating his own shot, finding open teammates, or taking over games in the fourth quarter, Juan has looked less like a rookie finding his footing and more like an established PBA star. The Rookie of the Year race is essentially a battle for second place, because Gomez de Liano has this award firmly locked up.
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