2025 PBA Mock Draft

It’s that time of year again when team managers pretend they’ve watched college ball all season, agents slide into DMs, and fans pray their team won’t pick someone “for need.” Welcome to the 2025 PBA Draft—a smorgasbord of pass-first guards, system wings, and bigs who will either become rotation guys or footnote trivia in 2030.

We went deep into the archives, watched grainy Facebook Live streams, and scrolled through UAAP-NCAA highlights at 2AM to bring you this totally biased, occasionally logical, but mostly gut-feel mock draft.

O sige kayo na pogi, basta saken ang dateng.
Photo by FIBA basketball

Let’s go!

1. Terrafirma Dyip – Juan Gomez de Liaño, PG, Gilas / Everywhere Basketball Exists

The Dyip pick a player who actually has a chance of changing their franchise's fortunes. JGDL is him—crafty, confident, and clutch. Can run the break, shoot threes, and sell jerseys. May koneksyon kay coach, may following sa social media, may laro. Terrafirma finally drafts someone who doesn’t need 3 seasons to adjust. Yun lang, baka 1 season pa lang nalipat na.

2. Phoenix Super LPG – Jason Brickman, PG, ABL / Time Traveler

Look, age is just a number—unless you’re a rebuilding team drafting a 30-something point guard. But Brickman is special. He’s the human embodiment of a well-oiled offense. High IQ, elite passer, and zero bad habits (off or on the court). Phoenix goes the veteran route here, and honestly, who else is setting up Balungay, Perkins, Tio, and co. like this guy can?

3. Blackwater Bossing – Will Gozum, PF, NCAA MVP / Puso-powered Paint Beast

The Bossing need toughness, identity, and a guy who will dive for a loose ball even if it’s in the parking lot. Enter: Will Gozum. Undersized, yes. But this man eats contact for breakfast. Built like a tank, moves like a tank, plays like your classic “wala sa height, nasa sipag” enforcer. Blackwater just found their emotional leader.

4. NorthPort Batang Pier – Chris Koon, SF, Ateneo / 3-and-D with Brain Cells

Koon isn’t going to drop 30, but he will rotate correctly, box out, and knock down that open corner three. High-IQ glue guy who makes better players shine. For NorthPort, which usually drafts on vibes, this is a surprisingly sensible pick. Imagine a taller Don Trollano with Ateneo polish. Another Zav, Will in the making. Can be groomed, a little bit of seasoning, before, again, being harvested.

5. NLEX Road Warriors – Dalph Panopio, PG, Italy / Gilas / Visionary Guard

With Kevin Alas winding down and Matt Nieto still inconsistent, NLEX drafts a composed, European-trained point guard who plays like he’s always two steps ahead. Panopio can shoot, pass, defend, and not do too much—a coach’s dream. Might not be flashy, but he’ll make your offense flow like imported olive oil. This move will also allow main gunner Robert Bolick to move to 2, Xyrus Torres to 3.

6. Magnolia Hotshots – Geo Chiu, C, 6'11" / Growth Spurt Personified

Magnolia finally invests in a true big man—because Ian Sangalang can’t play 40 mins forever. Chiu is massive, has good hands, and has improved every season. Still raw in the post, but he sets ok screens, protects the rim, and looks like he could evolve into a legit two-way big with proper seasoning. The Hotshots now have a new project worth the minutes.

7. Meralco Bolts – Yukien Andrada, SF/PF, San Beda / Silent Operator

Andrada looks like he just got out of class, but plays like a vet. At San Beda, he spaced the floor, defended multiple positions, and stayed within system—basically, the Meralco blueprint. Not flashy, but reliable. Cliff Hodge 2.0? Maybe not as chaotic, but definitely cut from the same hustle cloth. Honestly, could be developed into their very own Calvin Oftana-lite. Or a bigger Bong Quinto.

8. Converge FiberXers – LJay Gonzales, SG, FEU / Lightning in High-Tops

Converge drafts a one-man fastbreak who plays like someone pressed turbo on the controller. LJay is still more slasher than shooter, but if you’re looking for speed, quickness, and full-court chaos, he’s your guy. Think Baser Amer with better handles and no fear of contact. May streakiness, but also may upside.

9. San Miguel Beermen – Chris Miller, SG, US NCAA / Ready-Made Role Player

SMB goes with a mature, polished shooter who can step in right away. Miller won’t wow you with athleticism, but he knows where to be, when to shoot, and how to defend without getting benched in 5 minutes. Ideal fit next to CJ Perez and Jericho Cruz—especially once Marcio Lassiter decides he’s had enough.

10. Rain or Shine Elasto Painters – Ladis Lepalam, C, Benilde / Old School Bruiser

He’s not here to space the floor or switch onto guards—Ladis is here to bang. Hard screens, box-outs, elbows when necessary. Lepalam brings back the energy of early-2000s big men—zero finesse, all muscle. Coach Yeng’s type through and through. He’ll get minutes, fouls, and a cult following in Tondo. Low risk, but very high reward. My ceiling for him at present is Manny Ramos. Who wasn't really THAT good, but was serviceable to say the least. 6"9, strong. Can learn the ropes from resident bruisers Belga and Clarito.

11. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel – Jun Roque, SG, 6’3”, NCAA MIP / Di pa sikat, pero malapit na

Of course Ginebra takes a potential fan favorite. Roque is raw but loaded with tools: size, athleticism, wingspan, and flashes of perimeter game. Under Tim Cone’s slow cooker system, he might redshirt a year—but when he’s ready, watch out. Could be the next “Who’s that guy? Oh wow, he’s good now.”

12. Rain or Shine (via TNT) – Christian Manaytay, SF, UST / Big stocky wing

Manaytay is the classic “gumagawa ng trabaho na walang napapansin” type of player. Known for his tenacious defense, smart rotations, and gritty rebounding, he’s exactly the kind of player Yeng Guiao loves to unleash on opposing wings. Not a scorer, but someone who makes life difficult for the best perimeter threats. If you want hustle, energy, and constant effort, Manaytay’s your man. Think along the lines of Maverick, Jericho, Don, even Nimes, Nuyles, that season when RoS went all in and BIG across all positions.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This draft is sneaky good. It’s got mature guards, system-ready wings, and a few bigs with enough grit to survive the PBA paint wars. No Sotto-level hype, but plenty of pang-matagalan picks.

Expect trades, surprises, and at least one team to go “off the board” just to prove they scouted someone in Pampanga at a barangay liga. But if it all goes according to plan? This batch could quietly be one of the most solid in recent years.

Who do you think will go where?