One thing PBA fans can look forward to every season is the influx of new talent via the PBA Draft, and Season 50 is no exception. This current batch of rookies is particularly noteworthy because it heralded the PBA entrance of a couple of highly fancied prospects—Juan Gomez de Liaño, anyone, or Jason Brickman?—and some familiar names like Dalph Panopio and Chris Koon.
Now, with the PBA Philippine Cup halfway done, it’s about right to take a look at which rookies are excelling in their first rodeo in Asia’s first and oldest pay-for-play league in our first-ever Rebanse PBA Rookie Ladder. It should be noted, though, that a few rookies haven’t made their PBA Season 50 debut just yet because they are still tied to either their MPBL stints (Brickman and top overall pick Geo Chiu, for instance) or their collegiate obligations (Shawn Umali and Yukien Andrade, to mind).
Juan Gomez de Liaño – Converge FiberXers (2nd Overall Pick)
(14.5 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 8.7 APG, 1.2 SPG, 43.1% FG, 53.3% 3PT)
The consensus before the PBA Season 50 Draft was that Gomez de Liaño was most PBA-ready—a can’t-miss kind of prospect who’d come in right away and contribute to winning basketball. He’s done exactly that and more, putting up two triple-doubles in his first two games and emerging as a core piece of Converge. Gomez de Liaño’s playmaking, in particular, has mostly been high-level, save against the league’s elite.
JM Bravo – Terrafirma Dyip (56th Overall Pick)
(13.3 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 0.5 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 41.3% FG, 30.6% 3PT)
Terrafirma’s JM Bravo, the 56th overall pick of the PBA Season 50 Draft, has been a revelation, to say the least. A stretch albeit undersized 4, Bravo’s shooting, rebounding, and bravado have helped the Dyip stay competitive for the most part, even though that hasn’t necessarily translated to wins. But he’s definitely proven himself to be a keeper.
Dalph Panopio – Blackwater Bossing (3rd Overall Pick)
(9.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 33.9% FG, 26.3% 3PT)
Despite an uneven start to his PBA career, Panopio is now starting to come along, with his best game so far coming against none other than Gomez de Liaño in Blackwater’s close 99-94 defeat to Converge on Saturday. Look for Panopio’s production to ramp up as he gets more acclimated to the Pinoy style of hoops and is given more playing time (hopefully).
Chris Koon – Magnolia Hotshots (4th Overall Pick)
(7.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.4 SPG, 31.8% FG, 33.3% 3PT)
Chris Koon has shown flashes of the kind of do-it-all wing he could be once he realizes his potential. At 6-foot-5, the former Ateneo Blue Eagle can handle the ball, make plays for himself and his teammates, and shoot well enough to keep defenses honest. Koon’s 16-point, 4-rebound outing versus the San Miguel Beermen recently could be the breakout game the young man needs.
Sonny Estil – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (11th Overall Pick)
(6.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 0.6 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.2 BPG, 40% FG, 25% 3PT)
None other than Tim Cone has lauded Sonny Estil a couple of times already, and that’s no mean feat given Cone’s reluctance to play rookies. Estil’s energy, athleticism, and motor have given Ginebra that off-the-bench spark and change of pace it has sorely lacked over the past two years. Granted, his minutes have dwindled lately, but his fearlessness means he’ll be ready when his number is called.
