The upcoming 50th PBA Rookie Draft is certainly becoming the most anticipated draft class in the previous decade, considering how talented the 1st wave of collegiate stars is.
Former FEU Tamaraw Ljay Gonzales is the 1st Draft Applicant
With the 50th PBA Rookie Draft happening on September 7, former Far Eastern University guard Ljay Gonzales was the first player to announce his name as a draft applicant.
His announcement came out last August 15, which was first reported by Spin.ph.
In his final year wearing the green and gold jersey, Ljay was part of the Mythical Five during the UAAP Season 86 (Academic Year 2023-24). He averaged 14.79 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.14 assists, and 2.0 steals.
Gonzales is currently playing in the MPBL for the team of Quezon Huskers. The 6-foot guard is currently averaging 11 points per game, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2 steals, shooting 49.7% from the field and 31.4% from 3-point area.
The 26-year-old has played 20 games for the Huskers and started 17 of them, playing 18.6 minutes with the current record of 18-4.
Strong Group Bringing Strength to the PBA
Players from the Strong Group Athletics Philippines were “interested” in joining the upcoming rookie draft; these are Jason Brickman and DJ Fenner.
In 8 games, the 33-year-old Brickman averaged 2.9 PPG, 4 RPG, and 4.3 APG. While the 31-year-old Fil-Am combo guard averaged 10.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.5 APG, shot 35% from beyond the arc, and had a 42.9% field goal shooting.
The two players were vital in winning back-to-back titles in the Jones Cup last July 2025.
Stars from UAAP and NCAA
Reported by All-Star Magazine, these collegiate standouts from both the NCAA and UAAP are ready to carve their names in the history of basketball.
These are: Christian Manaytay, Will Gozum, Sean Quitevis, Mario Barasi, Royce Mantua, Reggz Gabat, Joshua, Yerro, John Matthew Manalang, Lian Ramiro, Mark Sangco, and Ira Bataller.
Manaytay, a former member of the UST Growling Tigers in the UAAP, blossomed into a two-way guard. In his final college year in 2024, he helped the University of Santo Thomas land a podium finish, which was their 1st playoff appearance after 3 years. He averaged 8.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, and shot 44.7 percent from the field while playing 21.6 minutes per game.
Currently, he is playing in the MPBL for the team of Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards, wherein he has played 19 games and started in 3 of them. Playing 16 minutes a game, he averaged 7.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2 APG, shooting 45.5% from the field and 24.1% from the rainbow country.
Nueva Ecija is the #2 team in the MPBL with a record of 21-1.
The NCAA Season 98 MVP, Will Gozum, was a former Blazer for the College of Saint Benilde. And despite bringing the CSB Blazers to the Finals, they couldn’t win the title. He played in the MPBL in 2023 and is currently playing with the Quezon Huskers as well.
Quetevis was a former Ateneo Blue Eagle and a champion in the UAAP. He won the title in Season 85, being a solid key contributor, but has struggled to get back in the Finals. As he graduated last year, he has spent time with the Ilagan Isabela Cowboys of the MPBL.
Playing in 20 games, he has started in 8 and has averaged 14.7 MPG, 2 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.1 APG with the Cowboys being 13-11 in the standings.
Barassi is a former member of the Adamson Falcons and is currently in the Basilan Starhorse of the MPBL. The 6-foot-7 big man has only seen limited action with Basilan, as he has only played 7 games.
Mantua is a Fil-Australian forward who played for both the UST and Adamson. He had several scoring outbursts in Season 87 for the Falcons.
Gabat was a former member of the San Sebastian Staggs and ended his college stint in the NCAA Season 100. He is playing in the Zamboanga Sikat of MPBL, averaging 9.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG in 16.4 MPG through playing 22 games.
Yerro, the captain of the Adamson in Season 87, is now averaging 3.8 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.2 APG through 14 minutes of action and has played 22 games for the Huskers.
JM Manalang, the 6-foot-5 Forward of the UE Red Warriors and is now in the Zamboanga of MPBL after playing only 7 games with the Quezon City Galeries Taipan.
The one-and-done Fil-Am guard for the De La Salle Green Archer, Ramiro, is now playing in the Vietnam Basketball League for the Hanoi Buffaloes. He saw action in 16 games and through 21.7 MPG, he averaged 10.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.5 APG, and 1.8 SPG.
Former Blazer Mark Sangco has also thrown his name into the draft applicant pool. The 6-foot-5 forward who was Heart and Soul of Benilde is now playing for the Pasay Voyagers of MPBL and has played 23 games, averaging 5.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.5 APG through 17.2 MPG.
The 6-foot-4 Forward for the Collegio De San Juan De Letran, Bataller, is going to be an asset to any PBA team that drafts him.
