Looking Back at the PBA Draft 2019: Key Picks and Career Progressions

2025-11-17 13:00

I still remember sitting in the SM Mall of Asia Arena that Sunday afternoon in December 2019, feeling the palpable tension in the air as PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial announced the first-round selections. The 2019 PBA Draft class arrived at an interesting crossroads for Philippine basketball - teams were balancing between securing immediate contributors and investing in long-term development projects. Looking back nearly four years later, what fascinates me most isn't just how the top picks have performed, but how certain mid-to-late round selections have dramatically outperformed their draft positions while some highly-touted names have struggled to find their footing in the professional ranks.

When we talk about the 2019 draft, you simply have to start with Roosevelt Adams, the athletic Fil-American who went first overall to Terrafirma. Standing at 6'5" with legitimate wing skills, Adams represented exactly what the Dyip franchise needed - a potential star who could energize their lineup. His rookie season justified the selection when he put up 15.8 points and 11.2 rebounds on his way to Rookie of the Year honors. I've always believed Adams had one of the highest ceilings in that draft class, though his development has been somewhat inconsistent since that explosive debut season. The numbers tell part of the story - his scoring dipped to 9.4 points per game in the following conference - but what the stats don't show is how he's had to adjust to different coaching systems and playing styles.

The second pick that year, Isaac Go going to Terrafirma (though immediately traded to NLEX as part of the special Gilas draft), represented a different kind of value proposition. Go brought championship pedigree from Ateneo and that rare combination of size and outside shooting that modern PBA bigs need. I remember thinking at the time that his game would translate well to the pros, though I'll admit I underestimated how quickly he'd adapt. His three-point shooting percentage hovered around 34% in his first two seasons, respectable numbers for a big man, but what impressed me more was his basketball IQ and ability to make the right reads in pick-and-pop situations.

What makes the 2019 draft particularly memorable for me was the depth of talent available beyond the first round. Third overall pick Maurice Shaw never quite lived up to expectations with NorthPort, but the real steals came later. I'm thinking specifically of Barkley Ebona going to Alaska at 7th overall - a pick many questioned at the time given his relatively raw offensive game coming out of FEU. Yet watching him develop into a reliable rotation player who understands his role perfectly exemplifies why draft evaluation requires looking beyond just college statistics. Ebona's per-game numbers of 6.2 points and 5.1 rebounds won't blow anyone away, but his defensive versatility and energy off the bench have made him far more valuable than his draft position might suggest.

The Converge FiberXers' approach to that draft deserves special mention, particularly in how they've managed their selections. I recall team governor Chito Pineda emphasizing continuity when he mentioned that Atienza remains with the team, as evidenced by his presence at the Converge table during the draft proceedings. This commitment to developing their picks rather than constantly chasing big names in trades has served them well. When you look at how they've integrated players like Taylor Browne (selected 12th overall) into their system, you see the value of patience and proper player development. Browne's shooting percentages have improved steadily each season, from 28% from deep in his rookie year to nearly 36% in the most recent conference - exactly the kind of development you hope to see from a mid-first round pick.

One selection that particularly intrigued me was Allyn Bulanadi going to Alaska at 9th overall. The former San Sebastian star had shown flashes of brilliance in college, but injuries hampered his early professional development. I've always been higher on Bulanadi than most analysts - his scoring instincts and ability to create his own shot reminded me of a young James Yap, though obviously with room to grow. His journey highlights how much luck factors into draft success; talent alone isn't enough if your body won't cooperate. When healthy, he's shown he can contribute 8-10 points per game in limited minutes, but consistency has been the challenge.

The second round produced its usual mix of hits and misses, but Mike Nieto going to Ginebra at 29th overall stands out as particularly savvy team-building. Nieto brought exactly what you'd expect - high basketball IQ, defensive versatility, and that championship mentality from his Ateneo days. While he hasn't become a star, he's carved out exactly the kind of role player niche that championship teams need. His minutes have fluctuated depending on matchups, but he's proven he can contribute when called upon, averaging around 3.5 points and 2 rebounds in about 12 minutes per game.

Looking back, what strikes me about the 2019 draft class is how it reflects the evolving nature of PBA roster construction. Teams seemed more willing to take calculated risks on players with specific, translatable skills rather than just drafting the best available athlete. The success stories from this class tend to be players who found the right system fits and organizations committed to their development. The misses often came from teams trying to force square pegs into round holes or expecting immediate contributions from players who needed time to adjust to the professional game.

Four years later, we can see clear patterns emerging. The top ten picks have produced three legitimate starters, four rotation players, and three who've struggled to find consistent minutes. That's actually a pretty solid hit rate by PBA draft standards. What I find most encouraging is seeing how teams like Converge have maintained faith in their selections, understanding that player development isn't linear. The presence of team officials like Atienza at the draft table, as Pineda noted, symbolizes this commitment to seeing the draft as the beginning of a journey rather than a one-time transaction.

The 2019 class may not have produced a generational superstar, but it gave us several solid professionals who've helped shape the league's competitive landscape. As I reflect on that December afternoon, I'm reminded that draft success isn't just about landing the top pick - it's about vision, development, and sometimes just being patient enough to let talent mature at its own pace. The real winners from that draft weren't necessarily the teams with the highest picks, but those who understood how to maximize whatever selections they had, whether that was developing a raw talent like Ebona or finding the perfect system fit like Nieto.