Now it can be told. The PBA rookie class of 2025 is pretty solid. That’s because after missing all or most of the Philippine Cup, a number of rookies finally got the chance to prove their worth in the Commissioner’s Cup. And that is why we’re expanding our second ever Rebanse PBA Rookie Ladder to 10—or double the number of rookies that made it to the original list we compiled long ago.
So, without further ado, we present the Rebanse PBA Rookie Ladder 2.0:
1. Juan Gomez De Liaño | Converge FiberXers
(15.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 0.8 steal, 37.5% 3PT)
Gomez De Liaño’s Commissioner’s Cup campaign was, by and large, disappointing—if a 15-5-5 stat line can be described as such. But that’s how high the first overall pick of the Season 50 PBA Rookie Draft set the bar after a sensational Philippine Cup where he averaged close to a triple-double. To be fair, JGDL missed three games early in the tournament and had to deal with the aftereffects of a right knee bone contusion. Still, all in all, he was the best among the rest.
2. LjayGonzales | NLEX Road Warriors
(7.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.1 steals)
Gonzales showed glimpses when he came in late for the Road Warriors in the Philippine Cup. He showed a lot more in the Commissioner’s Cup, carving out a big role as a heady spark plug off the NLEX bench as a fearless rookie. He was also a two-way force—a steady playmaker on one end and a sturdy defender on the other. Crucially, he showed massive cojones in cardiac finishes, even hitting a buzzer-beating game-winning trey in the elims.
3. Jason Brickman | Meralco Bolts
(7.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.9 steal, 93.3% FT)
Some might say Brickman, 34, got to the PBA a bit too late. But he proved last conference that he still has plenty left in the proverbial gas tank. Brickman specifically showed what it means to be a true point guard even as a PBA rookie as he ran the Meralco offense with patience and precision, making the right decisions, dishing out dimes, and hitting open triples. That the Bolts reached the semis is in part due to Brickman’s steady presence.
4. Geo Chiu | Terrafirma Dyip
(7.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.3 blocks)
Chiu probably won’t be a June Mar Fajardo or a Danny Ildefonso. But in his first full conference with Terrafirma, the former Ateneo Blue Eagle proved to be s serviceable PBA rookie. He was particularly good at rebounding, as he was the only local other than JMF to grab at least 10 boards a game. Yes, Chiu outrebounded everybody else in the Commissioner’s Cup except the nine-time MVP. His finishing around the basket needs work, but he definitely isn’t as bad as some pundits say.
5. Bryan Sajonia | Titan Ultra Giant Risers
(9.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 41.5% 3PT)
The 39th pick of the draft showed he shouldn’t have slid down so low. A champion in the NCAA with the San Beda Red Lions, Sajonia showcased surprisingly good three-level scoring, making a little over a triple per game, hitting a decent amount of midrange jumpers, and getting all the way to the rim from time to time. In fact, he had a 23-point outing in 17 minutes against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and a 29-point explosion against Meralco and its usually stout defense. Steal of the draft, indeed.
6. Dalph Panopio | Blackwater Bossing
(8.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists)
Injuries limited Panopio to just five games last conference, which is a shame because all he’s ever done is do it all for Blackwater. Cut from the same cloth as Brickman as a point guard, Panopio still proved to be a do-it-all playmaker even in the midst of a challenging stretch early in his career. Playing more for Pat Aquino next conference could fully unleash the Fil-Italian playmaker.
7. CJ Austria | Blackwater Bossing
(8.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists)
Originally selected by the Titan Ultra Giant Risers in the second round in the Season 50 PBA Rookie Draft but later on let go, Austria found a second lease on life in Blackwater. And with Aquino giving him minutes and leeway, the former La Salle Green Archer certainly made the most of this second chance, showing fearless and decisive playmaking even in pressure situations and getting down and dirty on defense, too.
8. JM Bravo | Terrafirma Dyip
(7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 49.3% FG)
Like Sajonia, Bravo is a steal at No. 56. Sure, his numbers dropped, but so did his minutes. And yet he has continued to be a key rotation piece for the Dyip. He remains a threat from deep, is a hard worker on defense, and is just a no-nonsense type of player all around.
9. Christian Manaytay | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
(3.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.8 assist, 42.4% FG)
Manaytay’s numbers aren’t overwhelming, and yet he played a key part in Rain or Shine’s semis run in the Commissioner’s Cup. Slotted often at the four alongside Jaylen Johnson, the former UST Growling Tiger proved he could do the dirty work for Yeng Guiao, particularly on defense. He isn’t putting up the numbers yet, but he’s showing he has what it takes.
10. Joshua David | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
(3.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists)
David is a super late addition to this list, in part because he only got his chance in the Elasto Painters’ semis clash against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. A surprise in Game 4 with Rain or Shine trailing 2-1, David set the tone early in the win with his feisty, in-your-face defense and fearless, steady shooting from deep. He nearly did the same in Game 5, which goes to show the former Green Archer is that good of a player.
