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Who Got Picked in the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft? Full Results Revealed
I still remember the excitement buzzing through the Philippine basketball community when the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft rolled around. Having covered Philippine basketball for over a decade now, I've witnessed numerous draft classes, but there was something particularly special about this batch that had fans and analysts alike buzzing with anticipation. The draft took place on October 29, 2017, at Robinson's Place Manila, with 39 hopefuls ultimately hearing their names called that day - though only a handful would truly make their mark in the professional league.
The first round unfolded with some predictable picks but also contained a few surprises that had us journalists scrambling to update our stories. Kia Picanto (now Terrafirma Dyip) started things off by selecting Christian Standhardinger as the consensus number one pick - a choice that seemed obvious given his dominant performance in the ASEAN Basketball League. What made this particularly interesting was that Standhardinger couldn't immediately join the team due to his commitment to the Hong Kong Eastern Lions, creating an unusual situation where the top pick wouldn't suit up right away. The second pick saw Columbian Dyip (now also Terrafirma) snagging Raymar Jose, while Blackwater chose Rey Nambatac at third - a move I personally thought was brilliant given Nambatac's proven scoring ability in the amateur ranks. The draft's depth became apparent as teams continued to select promising talents like Jason Perkins, Sidney Onwubere, and Robbie Herndon in the first round.
What struck me most about this draft class was how many of these players understood the mental aspect of transitioning to professional basketball. I recall talking to several draftees afterward, and many echoed what we see in our reference knowledge - that getting through the rough stretches requires sharpening not just the body but the mind. This mental preparation became particularly crucial for players like Nambatac, who needed to adjust from being the primary scorer in college to finding his role in a professional system. The psychological transition from amateur to pro basketball is something I believe we often underestimate - it's not just about stronger opponents and longer seasons, but about handling pressure, media scrutiny, and the business side of sports.
Looking back at the second round and beyond, we saw some absolute steals that have shaped team rosters for years. Jorey Napoles going to Rain or Shine at 14th overall stands out as one of the better value picks, while Philip Cahilig to GlobalPort at 16th showed how teams were looking for specific role players rather than just big names. The draft stretched to five rounds total, with teams taking fliers on development prospects and local league standouts. What many fans don't realize is that only about 60% of drafted players actually end up signing contracts and seeing meaningful playing time in their rookie seasons - the transition is that difficult.
Five years later, we can properly evaluate this draft class, and in my professional opinion, it produced several cornerstone players who have become vital to their franchises. Standhardinger eventually made his way to the PBA and became an All-Star, while Perkins developed into one of the league's most reliable forwards. Nambatac exceeded my expectations by becoming a clutch performer for Rain or Shine. The mental toughness these players developed during their transition period reminds me of that crucial insight about preparing both body and mind - it's what separates those who flourish from those who fade away in this demanding league. The 2017 draft will be remembered not just for the talent it produced, but for how many of these players demonstrated the psychological fortitude needed to succeed at the highest level of Philippine basketball.