It is easy to get lost in the shuffle of Philippine basketball's fast-paced news cycle, but DJ Fenner is ready to remind everyone exactly who he is and what he brings to the table. Following an impressive stint with Strong Group Athletics during their Dubai campaign two years ago, the Fil-Am winger has quietly been putting in the work with the Abra Solid North Weavers in the MPBL.
Now, Fenner is officially declaring for the PBA Draft this coming January. With the sudden buzz regarding the loss of Mike Phillips in the upcoming draft, many fans and pundits have seemingly forgotten to mention Fenner’s name in the first-round conversation.
Fuel to the Fire
For Fenner, being overlooked is just more fuel to the fire.
"I have so much left in the tank. I haven't proven nearly as much as I'm capable of, and not just in my professional career, but definitely in the Philippines," Fenner stated in an exclusive interview with SPIN.ph. "It's always good to prove doubters wrong, but it feels better to prove my supporters right".
While he is currently focused on finishing his MPBL season strong with Abra, Fenner is keeping a close eye on the big league. When asked which team he'd like to play for, including crowd-favorites like Barangay Ginebra—a team his titos and titas support—he remained professional but confident. "Whatever team drafts me is going to get a steal. I'll do my best to help them win and bring my experience and skills to that program," Fenner claimed.
A Modern Skillset
Fenner possesses a modern skillset that PBA coaches drool over. At 6-foot-6, he is incredibly agile, capable of knocking down shots from the outside, banging bodies in the paint, and switching across multiple positions on defense.
He highlighted his own attributes, stating: "I bring leadership, for one. I lead by example, I put in a lot of work. Active on both ends, offense and defense. Definitely athletic at a 6'6" wing. I don't think there's many guys that can match up with me, and I'm able to switch on defense. I think I bring a lot to the table".
The Zavier Lucero and Caelan Tiongson Comparisons
If anyone doubts how Fil-Am forwards can transition into the PBA system, one only needs to look at Caelan Tiongson. Despite being in his mid-30s, Tiongson continues to provide massive upside, toughness, and versatility for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. Fenner, who has closely watched Tiongson alongside other standouts like Jordan Heading and Jason Brickman—who also joined the PBA draft in their mid-30s—offers that same level of two-way impact but with fresher legs and explosive athleticism.
This brings us to the ultimate question: Is DJ Fenner worthy of being selected first overall?
Right now, the hype surrounding Fenner paints him as another version of Zavier Lucero or Caelan Tiongson. The standard for a franchise-altering top pick is incredibly high. If Fenner cannot equal the current impact, grit, and toughness that Caelan Tiongson brings to the floor on a nightly basis, then he is not deserving of the #1 pick.
However, if his fresher legs and athleticism allow him to exceed Tiongson's production and get close to the dynamic, game-changing ability that Zavier Lucero brings to a roster, then he absolutely is! The upcoming January draft will be the ultimate proving ground to see which team takes a chance on this versatile 6-foot-6 forward.
Related Article: 2026 PBA Mock Draft: Ginebra chose a bigman with the #1 pick! FULL 2 ROUNDS!
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