I still remember the anticipation buzzing through the Mall of Asia Arena back in October 2016. The PBA Rookie Draft that year felt particularly significant, loaded with promising talent that had fans and analysts like myself debating for weeks beforehand. Looking back now, seven years later, it's fascinating to trace the divergent paths these players have taken. Some became cornerstone franchise players, others solid rotation pieces, and a few, sadly, faded into obscurity. What makes this draft class so compelling to analyze is how it defied initial expectations in many ways, producing several late-round gems while some highly-touted early picks never quite found their footing.
The obvious headliner, then and now, was Christian Standhardinger. Selected first overall by the San Miguel Beermen, though immediately traded to Kia (now Terrafirma), he was the consensus top talent. His journey has been anything but straightforward, bouncing between teams before truly flourishing. Now, he's an established star and a crucial part of Ginebra's success, a testament to his resilience and evolving game. He's averaged around 18 points and 10 rebounds in recent conferences, numbers that firmly place him among the league's elite big men. Right behind him was the second pick, Ray Parks Jr., a player with immense hype. His PBA career has been, well, enigmatic. There's no denying his talent—he's a walking bucket when he's on—but his commitments and stints abroad have made his PBA presence feel intermittent. When he plays, he's a difference-maker, but I've often wondered what a fully focused, uninterrupted PBA career from him would have looked like.
Then you have the third pick, a personal favorite of mine from his college days: Mac Belo. Selected by Blackwater, he brought that "Belo Touch" with him and had a stellar rookie season. He was the future of that franchise. But his career trajectory is a classic case of how a player's development can be impacted by team dynamics and injuries. He's moved around, to Meralco and now to San Miguel, and while he's had his moments, I don't think he's ever quite recaptured that explosive, go-to-guy form he showed as a rookie. It's a reminder that a player's environment is just as crucial as their raw talent. Another fascinating case from that first round is Jio Jalalon. Picked sixth by Star (now Magnolia), he was a known commodity from college—a pitbull on defense with incredible court vision. He's arguably become the heart and soul of the Hotshots' backcourt. His stats won't always blow you away, maybe 10 points and 6 assists on a good night, but his energy and defensive tenacity are absolutely priceless. He's exactly the kind of player you win championships with.
Now, this is where we get to the part that directly involves your reference point. The draft wasn't just about the first round. The later rounds are where savvy teams find gems, and one of the most interesting picks, in my opinion, was Northport's selection of Chris Koon in the later stages. Honestly, when his name was called, I had to double-check my notes. He wasn't a mainstream collegiate star, and his path to the PBA was less conventional. His selection by Northport was a classic low-risk, high-reward move. From what I've followed, his PBA journey was brief, but making it to the draft list itself is a significant achievement that many aspiring players never reach. It speaks to the sheer depth of that draft class that even players who didn't become household names were talented enough to earn a spot. His story is a crucial part of the 2016 draft's narrative—it highlights the dreams realized just by being drafted, even if a long-term starring role in the league doesn't materialize for everyone. It's the other side of the coin, the reality for many drafted players.
Beyond these names, the 2016 draft was remarkably deep. You had Kevin Ferrer, a key shooter for Ginebra's championship runs. There was Von Pessumal, another reliable gunner. And who could forget the steal of the draft? Russell Escoto was picked 11th by Mahindra and has turned into a very serviceable, versatile forward who has contributed meaningfully to every team he's been on. That's value you rarely find outside the top five. On the flip side, a pick like Carl Bryan Cruz, while showing flashes of brilliance with his outside shooting, has never quite found a permanent home, bouncing from Alaska to TNT and now to Terrafirma. It makes you think about fit and opportunity. A player's success isn't just about their skill set, but about landing in a system that amplifies their strengths.
So, where does that leave us seven years on? The 2016 PBA Draft class has left an indelible mark on the league. It produced a bona fide superstar in Standhardinger, several essential championship pieces like Jalalon and Ferrer, and a host of solid role players. It also gave us the "what-ifs" of players like Parks and Belo, whose careers we'll always view through a lens of slightly unfulfilled potential, at least in my view. And it's important to remember the Chris Koons of the batch—the players whose stories remind us that the draft is both an endpoint of a dream and a beginning of a challenging professional journey. Evaluating a draft takes years, not days. Looking at this list now, I'd grade it as an A-. It didn't produce a plethora of MVP-level talents, but the depth of quality players who are still contributing significantly to the PBA today is truly impressive. It was a draft that built foundations for many teams and gave us storylines that we're still following to this day.
