ALL-STAR Mock 2027 PBA Draft 2.0
Well, this changes things.
Just days ago, news broke of Mike Phillips signing a two-year deal with the Kyoto Hannaryz in the Japan B.League. This comes on the heels of some melodrama with the San Juan Knights, who cried foul over Motor Mike’s departure.
But that’s neither here nor there. What we know for sure is, one of the top prospects for the 2027 PBA Draft is off the board.
So, who goes number one, and what type of domino effect will the Phillips news have on the rest of the field? While it’s a big blow to not have Phillips in the draft pool, it’s still a loaded class at this point.
I say that because players who used to ply their trade in the collegiate scenes are sharpening their tools in the MPBL. And because young guns set to play their final UAAP and NCAA seasons have put on quite the show at the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup.
Draft prospects’ performance in those leagues were taken into consideration in the crafting of this mock draft. Special emphasis was given to stats tallied in the month of July, but I also thought long and hard about the long-term potential of these PBA aspirants. It’s a mix of “What have you done for your team lately?” and “How high is your ceiling?”
One last thing: Since the Governors’ Cup is still in progress, I obviously can’t use the weighted distribution for teams’ finishes in this PBA season (40% Philippine Cup, 30% Commissioner’s Cup, 30% Governors’ Cup). To simplify things in the determination of the draft order—before factoring in the draft pick trades, of course—I distributed the weight of this third conference evenly, such that I allocated 55% to a team’s Philippine Cup finish and 45% to a team’s Commissioner’s Cup finish.
That’s the approach I took in the first version of this draft, and that’s the approach I’ll take until the Governors’ Cup comes to an end.
Round 1
#1 KYMANI LADI – NLEX Road Warriors (from Blackwater)
With his combination of size, athleticism, and shooting, Kymani Ladi has an incredibly high ceiling—higher, perhaps than anyone else in this draft class. The former Ateneo Blue Eagle is more of a “potential” pick, but the numbers show that Ladi is coming along well in the process of polishing his skill set. In his last three games with Batang Kankaloo, Ladi is averaging 14.3 points per game on a scintillating 7-for-9 shooting clip from deep. Imagine how much further Jimmy Alapag, newly minted NLEX coach, can push this kid.
#2 MASON AMOS – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel (from Terrafirma)
Talk about ceiling over actual numbers. I was thinking of lowering Mason Amos’ stock in this draft after he went 0-for-3 in his last two FilOil games, but at the risk of contradicting myself, I’ll actually bump him up to number two in this mock draft. And yes, I’m absolutely pulling out the “potential” card here. There’s a reason Amos cracked the notoriously exclusive Gilas pool, and that’s his firepower as a stretch big. The one-time UAAP champion can also score inside, which allows Tim Cone—who has already started working on his development during their time together on the national team—to put Amos on the low block or the pinch post in that triangle.
#3 NIC CABAÑERO – Titan Ultra Giant Risers
How did Nic Cabañero pull off one of the biggest leaps in our mock draft? It’s simple: The former King Tiger has been torching the nets and stuffing the stat sheets against professional competition. Over the past three weeks, Cabañero has been averaging 18.7 ppg on 51.2% FG shooting, along with 5.3 rpg, 3.3 apg, and 2.3 spg for Biñan Tatak Gel. Cabañero is as complete a player as you’ll find in this draft, and Titan Ultra could get their next cornerstone by selecting him at no. 3.
#4 DJ FENNER – Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters
The Fuel Masters look like they’re in a great place with coach Charles Tiu, and this high first-round pick increases their own ceiling as playoff contenders. Honestly, I look at the success that Ginebra has achieved with Stephen Holt and I can’t help but think of DJ Fenner’s potential impact in the PBA. Fenner (13.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.0 apg in the MPBL season) gives off the same glue guy vibes as Holt, and Phoenix would be adding tremendous versatility to their wing rotation with the addition of this Abra Solid North Weaver.
#5 JACOB CORTEZ – Terrafirma Dyip (from Converge)
Remember those DLSU losses to UP and San Beda in the FilOil tournament? The moral of those stories is, Jacob Cortez is a reliable leader no matter what the scoreboard says. The outcomes of those games (not to mention his subpar 34.0% shooting clip) slightly hurt Cool Cub’s stock, but his scoring production was nevertheless steady at 16.5 points per game. And if Terrafirma ever needed convincing of Cortez’s will to win, all they have to do is to rewind the footage of that DLSU-UP game when he pulled down nine rebounds. That’s huge.
#6 ALLEN LIWAG – NLEX Road Warriors
The Road Warriors can use some more youth in their frontline, and they can inject some fresh blood with the acquisition of Allen Liwag. With a PBA-ready body and a scoring tool box that includes post moves and a serviceable jumper, Liwag can control the paint and help Robert Bolick and Kevin Alas get their running game going. The two-time NCAA MVP—who tallied 20 points, five rebounds, four assists, and four blocks against JRU on July 7—would make a great inside-out combination with the sweet-shooting Ladi.
(Note: A viewer of The Navs Effect Podcast fact-checked me while we did our live mock draft.. And yes, I have confirmed that the NLEX-Phoenix transaction involving this draft was for the second round—a trade that sent Ato Ular and the Road Warriors’ S51 Round 2 pick to the Fuel Masters in exchange for Javee Mocon. Which means that this first-round pick belongs to NLEX, not Phoenix. That oversight is my bad, not Navs’. Thank you, dear viewer.)
#7 JD CAGULANGAN – Magnolia Timplados Hotshots
It’ll be a while before we see JD Cagulangan in action once again, but I’m sticking to this pick at no. 7. If anything, the back-to-back losses at the start of Magnolia’s third conference are proof that they need a calming force to steady the ship in rocky times. Cagulangan’s torn ACL is a red flag for sure, but we’ve seen athletes bounce back from this injury and subsequently thrive in this day and age. When healthy, the former UAAP Finals MVP is a dependable court general and a clutch operator.
#8 JAKE FIGUEROA – Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
I am also sticking to my selection of Jake Figueroa as the eighth overall pick. This month, Figueroa has shot efficiently for Abra, converting on 12 out of 25 total field goal attempts across three games. The former National University star could use some work on his outside shots, but his time with the Solid North Weavers has reminded PBA scouts that he can contribute in other ways as well. This month, Figueroa is averaging 7.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists as well.
#9 DOM ESCOBAR – Meralco Bolts
The Bolts could use some more size at the wings, and Dom Escobar can give them exactly that. This Batang Kankaloo standout doesn’t have to carry a heavy burden on the scoring end, which means that he can just be himself on the Meralco lineup: a multi-faceted forward who can defend three positions and help out with playmaking duties. Escobar’s July 24 stat line against Basilan (seven points, six rebounds, four assists, one block) is a glimpse of the diverse tool box that the Bolts can work with.
#10 KEAN BACLAAN – San Miguel Beermen
Here’s another leapfrogging act. Kean Baclaan has been displaying fine form in the MPBL, which validates his decision to forgo his final season of UAAP eligibility. Earlier this month, the former Green Archer dropped 21 points on a sizzling 9-for-11 shooting clip for Batang Kankaloo. Two weeks after that, Baclaan dished out six assists to go along with 11 points, four rebounds, and one steal. That’s the kind of high-octane production that will get the San Miguel brass to turn their heads.
#11 CEDRICK MANZANO – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
What’s better than drafting one talented big with international experience? Drafting two, I guess. Cedrick Manzano’s shiny gold medal at the 2025 SEA Games certainly helps his case, as do his recent numbers with the Quezon Huskers. In the month of July, Manzano is averaging a double-double (13.5 points and 12.8 rebounds per game) while also learning to play through the physicality at the pro level. The Adamson product would go a long way in securing the future of Ginebra’s frontcourt.
#12 JOMEL PUNO – Blackwater Bossing (from TNT)
Jomel Puno’s FilOil stats aren’t exactly the type to leap off the page, but his physical dimensions and intangibles are too good to ignore. With RK Ilagan balling as of late and Dalph Panopio yet to scratch his fullest potential, the Bossing can help themselves by adding a highly athletic forward with solid switchability on the defensive end. Plus, Blackwater’s guru Pat Aquino can help the 6-foot-5 Puno take his game to the next level.
Round 2
#13 RAVEN GONZALES – NLEX Road Warriors (from Blackwater)
Last month, I made this selection with a Mike Phillips tandem in mind. Though it looks like the Road Warriors will be missing out on Motor Mike for now, his former La Salle teammate Raven Gonzales nevertheless brings rim protection that made their Taft frontcourt a formidable one. This month, Gonzales has been cleaning up the boards for Abra—he had a 19-point, 20-rebound outing against Bacolod on July 20—and he’s altered his fair share of shots with 1.5 blocks per game. (Gonzales and Liwag in the paint? Yes, please.)
#14 HAROLD ALARCON – Terrafirma Dyip
The Dyip have a perennial need for fire starters on offense. In the second round, they can add more fuel to their engine by drafting Harold Alarcon. Though the Fighting Maroon-turned-Knight still has to work on his consistency, Alarcon posted a solid 14-4-2-1 stat line against Meycauyan on July 14.
#15 GANI STEVENS – Converge FiberXers (from Titan Ultra)
Props to Justin Arana for bagging Player of the Week honors in mid-July, but it would behoove the FiberXers to have an insurance policy in case they part ways with Arana. Gani Stevens is certainly not the polished product that Arana is, but his strong frame and constantly improving left-hand finishes are a good start. Imagine how Stevens’ post moves and footwork would look like after a few months in Danny Ildefonso’s finishing school for big men.
#16 RC CALIMAG – Converge FiberXers (from Phoenix)
Will Converge have both Juan Gomez de Liaño and Mikey Williams on their lineup next season? Whether that’s the case or not, it makes sense to add a backcourt piece that doesn’t need the ball in his hands for long stretches. RC Calimag, whose draft stock rose after swishing six triples and finishing with 27 points against UP in the FilOil semis, fits the bill here.
#17 REY REMOGAT – Titan Ultra Giant Risers (from Converge)
Rey Remogat’s draft stock takes a hit after his two scoreless outings in the FilOil playoffs. Still, a talented combo guard like Remogat is a prospect that Titan Ultra can’t let slide. UP’s lead guard will have to show out and show off in the AUBL if he wants to re-establish himself as one of the top backcourt prospects in this class.
#18 JUSTINE SANCHEZ – Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters (from NLEX)
To add more size and versatility to their frontcourt, the Fuel Masters can pick up Justine Sanchez at no. 18. Against JRU on July 7, the CSB forward put up 13 points on 45.5% FG shooting, as well as five assists, one steal, and one block.
#19 PJ PALACIELO – Magnolia Timplados Hotshots
Some folks might be thinking that I owe an apology to a player or two. Well, here’s one: Mea culpa, PJ Palacielo. The NU Bulldogs’ big man is primed to have a solid PBA career, thanks in large part to his imposing frame and his scoring repertoire. During the Bulldogs’ FilOil stint, Palacielo averaged 10.9 ppg on 44.6% FG shooting and 40.0% from deep.
#20 PATRICK SLEAT – Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
The Elasto Painters have an abundance of shooters. To mix things up, they can add a wing who can wreak havoc on the inside with his size and physicality. Patrick Sleat has been doing just that for the San Juan Knights. On July 23, he put up 23 points and six assists in a showdown against Valenzuela.
#21 KEVIN SANTOS – Meralco Bolts
I still like Kevin Santos’ fit with the Bolts after he helped Letran reach the semifinals of the FilOil tournament this year. He crashes the boards, he can switch out to cover smaller defenders, and he has the potential to become a dependable 3-and-D asset.
#22 JOHN ABATE – Titan Ultra (from San Miguel)
To date, John Abate has played just a single game for the Quezon Huskers: a four-point outing in eight minutes against Bulacan. We know that Abate is capable of much more than this, but until the former UE Red Warrior gets his numbers back up again, he’ll slide down the second round for now.
#23 TERRENCE FORTEA – Barangay Ginebra
If I’m projecting Ginebra to pick up two big men in the first round, a guard selection in Round 2 would make sense. Those who are keeping tabs on Terrence Fortea will always skip to the column on three-point percentage, and in his last two games for San Juan, he’s been shooting 56.3% (9-for-16, to be exact) from deep. “Shooter off the Ginebra bench” would be a decent start to Fortea’s PBA career.
#24 FORTHSKY PADRIGAO – Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (from TNT via Blackwater)
We see you, Mr. Padrigao. This past month, the former UST court general has been putting up the numbers to remind everyone of his court vision, creativity in distributing the ball, and effectiveness in pick-and-roll situations. Padrigao, who’s honing his craft with the Zamboanga Sikat, flirted with a triple-double against Sarangani (nine points, nine assists, 11 boards). And, in his first five games this month with Zamboanga, he’s averaging 11.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, and 7.4 apg.
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