2025 PBA Draft Reaction

Height is might in the PBA.
Geo Chiu 2025 PBA Draft 1st Pick
(Photo by OneSports.ph)

With the 2025 PBA Draft finally over, the dust settled and smoke cleared, Season 50 promises to offer a wave of excitement with a "new" team all set to make some noise.

And no, we are not talking about Pureblends/ Titan Maxx or whichever company decides to purchase NorthPort Batang Pier (should the sale push through in what local sports journos have been saying as a "lock, stock, and barrel" deal). We are talking about the Converge FiberXers, which appeared to be back in the hunt after looking a bit worrisome last season (following the exits of Jacob Lao and Charles Tiu). Lao of course, is back with the team, with Delta Pineda stepping in as head coach (armed with consultant Rajko Toroman).

But that's a long format entry for another day, today, let's focus on the up and coming future stars of the PBA. Let's go!

1. Geo Chiu, C, Terra Firma - during the combine, there was simply no denying that Chiu was a towering presence even if he didn't even break a sweat (literally, because he didn't participate in any of the physical activities). The kid is 6"9, has a strong looking build, and is mobile. Yes, he's raw, but he'll get time to develop on a team that you know, isn't really known for giving a F about winning. He's a project based on his whole college run, overseas run included, but still very young, looks like he's got a good head on him, and if he is able to put together 2-3 post moves, would still be okay in a league that doesn't really have a lot of locals standing over 6"7. At worst, he doesn't improve and simply fades away into obscurity. Grade: B-

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.