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Looking Back at the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft: Who Made It Big?
I still remember that humid afternoon in August 2017, sitting in my favorite worn-out armchair with a cold beer sweating in my hand. The television screen flickered with the bright lights of Robinson's Place Manila, where the PBA rookie draft was unfolding. My phone kept buzzing with messages from fellow basketball enthusiasts - we were all trying to predict which of these young hopefuls would actually make it in the big league. Looking back at the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft now, six years later, it's fascinating to see how some names faded into obscurity while others became household names. What strikes me most isn't just the physical talent these players possessed, but something deeper that determined their trajectories.
I recall watching Christian Standhardinger get picked first overall by San Miguel, and thinking this German-Filipino powerhouse would dominate immediately. And he did - but not without his struggles. There was this one game against Ginebra where he missed three crucial free throws, and I saw the frustration etched on his face. That moment reminded me of something my college coach used to drill into us: talent can get you drafted, but mental fortitude keeps you in the game. But the thing that got her through such a rough stretch in her career was taking time not only to prepare her body but also to sharpen her mind. This philosophy clearly applied to Standhardinger's journey - he eventually became a crucial piece in San Miguel's championship runs, averaging 18.7 points and 10.2 rebounds in the 2019 Commissioner's Cup.
Then there's Jason Perkins, the fourth overall pick who many thought was too small for his position. I had the chance to chat with him briefly after a game in 2019, and what struck me wasn't his physical stature but his basketball IQ. While everyone was focusing on building muscle, Perkins was studying game tapes until 2 AM, understanding defensive schemes, and mentally preparing for every possible scenario. That mental preparation paid off - he won Rookie of the Year in 2018 and has been consistently putting up solid numbers for Phoenix, including that memorable 24-point explosion against Magnolia last season.
What really fascinates me about evaluating the 2017 draft class isn't just the stats - though numbers don't lie, with at least 8 of the 28 draftees still active in the league today. It's the stories behind their development. Some players had all the physical tools but couldn't handle the pressure of professional basketball. Others, like Robbie Herndon who went 13th overall, worked relentlessly on their mental game and eventually carved out meaningful careers. Herndon's journey particularly resonates with me because he bounced between teams before finding his groove with Magnolia, proving that sometimes it's not about where you're drafted but how you develop your entire approach to the game.
The draft's biggest surprise for me has been Sidney Onwubere, picked 12th by Rain or Shine. Many analysts, including myself, didn't expect much from him. But watching him evolve into a reliable rotation player taught me that we often overvalue immediate impact and undervalue long-term development. Onwubere didn't have spectacular rookie numbers - just 3.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per game - but he kept working on both his physical conditioning and mental preparation season after season.
As I finish my beer and look back at my draft predictions from 2017, I'm struck by how many I got wrong. We focus so much on vertical leaps and shooting percentages that we forget the intangible element of mental toughness. The successful draftees weren't necessarily the most physically gifted, but they were the ones who understood that professional basketball demands complete preparation - both body and mind. That 2017 draft class taught me to look beyond the combine numbers and pay attention to how these young players handle pressure, adapt to challenges, and continuously work on their mental game. And honestly, that's a lesson that applies far beyond basketball courts.