Looking back at the 2013 PBA Draft, I still remember the palpable tension in the venue that day - you could practically taste the mixture of hope and anxiety in the air. Having followed Philippine basketball for over a decade now, I've witnessed numerous drafts come and go, but this particular class stands out as one of the most fascinating case studies in recent memory. The 2013 draft wasn't just about selecting players; it was about franchises making decisions that would shape their trajectories for years to come, with some teams hitting absolute home runs while others, well, let's just say they'd probably like a do-over.
When we talk about winners from that draft class, Greg Slaughter's name immediately springs to mind. Ginebra selecting him first overall was about as safe a pick as you could make, but sometimes the obvious choice is the right one. Standing at 6'11" with legitimate center skills, Slaughter gave Ginebra something they'd been craving for years - a true blue big man who could anchor both their offense and defense. I've always believed that championship teams need that reliable interior presence, and Slaughter provided exactly that. His rookie season numbers of 14.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game immediately justified Ginebra's faith, earning him Rookie of the Year honors. What impressed me most wasn't just his statistical production though - it was how he transformed Ginebra's identity almost overnight. Suddenly, they weren't just that run-and-gun showtime team; they had a legitimate halfcourt option who could punish smaller lineups.
The real draft steal, in my completely biased opinion, was Terrence Romeo falling to GlobalPort at fifth overall. I remember scratching my head watching four teams pass on arguably the most electrifying offensive talent in the draft. Romeo brought something to the PBA that we hadn't seen in years - that unapologetic, streetball-inspired flair combined with legitimate scoring chops. His career trajectory since then, including that memorable stint where he also played for the Taiwan Mustangs in The Asian Tournament after a stint with the Gilas team of coach Tab Baldwin, demonstrates exactly the kind of global potential that was evident even back in 2013. Romeo averaged over 20 points per game during his peak seasons, and while his style certainly raised some eyebrows among traditionalists, you couldn't argue with the results. GlobalPort landed a franchise player who could single-handedly win games, and that's precisely what draft steals are all about.
On the flip side, I've always considered the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters' selection of Raymond Almazan at third overall as somewhat of a mixed bag. Don't get me wrong - Almazan developed into a solid professional, but when you're picking that high, you're ideally looking for transformative talent. Almazan provided reliable interior defense and rebounding, averaging around 7.8 points and 6.9 rebounds during his first three seasons, but he never quite evolved into the dominant two-way big man that his physical tools suggested he could become. What fascinates me about evaluating draft picks is considering the opportunity cost - the players selected immediately after him included stars like Romeo and June Mar Fajardo's eventual backup, you have to wonder if Rain or Shine might have preferred a different direction in hindsight.
Speaking of questionable decisions, the Blackwater Elite's approach to that draft still puzzles me to this day. Selecting Gian Chiu at seventh overall represented exactly the kind of reach that can set expansion franchises back years. Chiu appeared in just 14 games over two seasons, averaging a mere 1.3 points, before fading from the league entirely. When you're building a team from scratch, every draft pick carries enormous weight, and wasting a top-ten selection on a player who contributes virtually nothing is practically unforgivable. I've always maintained that expansion teams should prioritize proven commodities over project players, and Blackwater's miss on this pick undoubtedly hampered their early development.
The curious case of Ian Sangalang warrants special mention too. Selected second overall by San Mig Coffee (now Magnolia), Sangalang presented an interesting evaluation challenge. On one hand, he put up respectable numbers of around 11.4 points and 6.8 rebounds as a rookie, showing flashes of the skilled big man he would become. On the other hand, when you're picked that high, especially right after Slaughter, the expectations are sky-high. What I appreciate about Sangalang's journey is how he gradually carved out his role, eventually becoming a crucial piece for a championship-caliber team rather than immediately trying to be the superstar. His development arc teaches us an important lesson about patience with top picks - not every high selection needs to become the face of the franchise overnight to justify their draft position.
Reflecting on this draft class nearly a decade later, what strikes me most is how it reinforced certain draft principles while challenging others. The success of Slaughter validated taking the proven, safe big man early, while Romeo's emergence as a star demonstrated that sometimes the most talented players slip due to perceived flaws in their game. The misses, particularly Blackwater's selection of Chiu, serve as cautionary tales about overthinking the draft process. Personally, I believe the 2013 draft's legacy extends beyond individual performances - it shaped franchise trajectories, created new rivalries, and provided the league with several marketable stars who would define the next era of PBA basketball. The winners and losers from that day weren't just the players, but the franchises that either nailed or whiffed on their evaluations, with consequences that reverberated through the league for years following those fateful selections.
As I sit down to reflect on the PBA's greatest players, I can't help but feel a mix of excitement and nostalgia. You see, I've spent over a decade studying b
