2024 PBA Draft grades
Photos courtesy of: PBA Images, UAAP Media Team
With the offseason lasting just two months, PBA teams had to make smart roster moves post-haste. While ball clubs like TNT and Ginebra shook up the landscape with blockbuster trades, every team had a chance to upgrade its lineup last Sunday in the 2024 PBA Draft.
Rather than discussing which teams got “good picks” and “bad picks”—after all, this draft was deep enough that no team made a legitimately bad decision—we can instead split the difference between “nice move” and “pretty nice get.” Here’s how each PBA team fared in the first two rounds of this year’s draft proceedings.
ROUND 1
1. JUSTINE BALTAZAR | Converge FiberXers
Grade: A+
For the past few years, the first overall pick in the PBA Draft has been a no-brainer. In 2024, this trend did not change at all as Converge selected the consensus number one guy in Justine Baltazar. Expect the team to be built around this prized big man.
2. SEDRICK BAREFIELD | Blackwater Bossing
Grade: A+
While Balti was at the top of the food chain in this year’s Draft, Sedrick Barefield was in a tier all by himself. No eyebrows were raised when the Bossing picked this well-traveled combo guard, who is the closest thing that Blackwater has to a franchise player at this point.
3. RJ ABARRIENTOS | Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
Grade: A-
Though Ginebra could use another formidable wingman, they did an outstanding job of refilling their pipeline of blockbuster point guards. The throne once inhabited by the Gineral LA Tenorio is currently occupied by Scottie Thompson, and it’ll be just a matter of time before the extremely talented RJ Abarrientos takes his seat.
4. KAI BALLUNGAY | Phoenix Fuelmasters
Grade: B+
Was Kai Ballungay the best available talent at this point? Sure. Does he address a roster need for the Fuelmasters? Yep. As promising as Ballungay is, this was a bit of a missed opportunity for Phoenix to add a veteran presence via the Draft. Caelan Tiongson was ripe for the pickings when the Fuelmasters were on the clock, and his years of pro experience could have helped elevate the young Phoenix studs to a different level.
5. DAVE ILDEFONSO | Northport Batang Pier
Grade: A
The most pressing need of the Batang Pier is a big body in the paint. Fortunately for Dave Ildefonso, the next thing on their list is another steady scorer in their backcourt. As early as his rookie season, this second-generation star can emerge as a primary option on offense.
6. JONNEL POLICARPIO | NLEX Road Warriors
Grade: A+
NLEX’s frontcourt boasts some highly physical big men (see: Sean Anthony and Dave Marcelo), but these forwards are also advanced in the age department. Jonnel Policarpio, a 22-year-old stretch four who’s no stranger to intense action in the paint, is an excellent addition to the Road Warriors’ roster. In particular, Poli and Robert Bolick would be a lethal two-man game that can’t be readily solved by switches.
7. CAELAN TIONGSON | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Grade: A
Phoenix’s loss is Rain or Shine’s gain, as Caelan Tiongson brings his lengthy resume and polished game to a youthful locker room. Like Beau Belga and playing assistant coach Gabe Norwood, the 32-year-old Tiongson can step into the role of big brother that echoes the instructions of Yeng Guiao.
8. FELIX LEMETTI | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Grade: B+
Speaking of Coach Yeng, trust the fiery mentor to nab an under-the-radar talent that makes the Draft audience go, “Sino ‘yun?” On the one hand, Felix Lemetti is a brilliant playmaker and outside sniper who played in Sweden and the US NCAA Division I. On the other hand, the 6-foot-1 guard adds to a logjam of small guards with similar skill sets.
9. JEROM LASTIMOSA | Magnolia Hotshots
Grade: A-
Like their sister team Ginebra, the Magnolia Hotshots got their point guard of the future with their first round pick. While Jerom Lastimosa eases his way into the PBA as he completes his recuperation from an ACL injury, he can soak in the wisdom of seasoned point guards Mark Barroca and Jio Jalalon.
10. MARK NONOY | Terrafirma Dyip
Grade: B+
Terrafirma has a halfcourt floor general in Juami Tiongson, but if Coach Johnedel Cardel wants to speed up the game, he can now call Mark Nonoy’s number. Though he’s still rough around the edges—in particular, his speed sometimes get the better of his decision-making—Nonoy is an athletic specimen that few PBA guards can outrun.
11. CJ CANSINO | Meralco Bolts
Grade: A-
The defending Philippine Cup Champions now have even more firepower in their wing position with the addition of CJ Cansino. He’s a reliable shotmaker that Coach Luigi Trillo can count on when the two Chrises (Newsome and Banchero) take a breather.
RELATED: Under the hood with CJ Cansino
12. AVAN NAVA | San Miguel Beermen
Grade: A-
While San Miguel doesn’t have any gaping holes to fill in any position, they did make a great selection by drafting Avan Nava. A 6-foot-2 guard who played in the KBL, Nava adds a sprinkling of youth to a rather seasoned backcourt.
ROUND 2
13. FRANCIS ESCANDOR | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Grade: B+
A specialist whose bread and butter is outside shooting, Francis Escandor will let it fly all night long—exactly the way Coach Yeng wants it. Escandor joins fellow Green Archer Andrei Caracut in the RoS backcourt.
14. EVAN NELLE | Northport Batang Pier
Grade: A+
Last week, we predicted that Evan Nelle would be the steal of the Draft. How the two-time college champion fell to the first round is beyond us, and Northport officials might have been giddy with anticipation as they found Nelle still available with the 14th pick. One hell of a pickup for the Batang Pier.
15. CJ CATAPUSAN | Terrafirma Dyip
Grade: B+
Assuming that Stanley Pringle dons a Terrafirma jersey this season, the Dyip can employ a fast-paced offense that CJ Catapusan would be suitable for. He can run the floor well, battle for loose balls, and provide a jolt of energy off the bench.
16. MIKE MALONZO | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Grade: B+
If RoS management decides to sign Mike Malonzo, they’ll be getting a highly disciplined player who will do exactly what he’s told on the court. What sets him apart from the rest of the Elasto Painters’ guards is his ability to rebound the ball, which should help trigger the team’s patented run-and-gun style.
17. DIDAT HANAPI | Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
Grade: B
Throughout his UAAP career, Didat Hanapi was a solid role player for the Adamson Soaring Falcons. Sooner rather than later, Hanapi’s outside sniping and slashing prowess are sure to find a place in Coach Tim Cone’s triangle offense.
18. BRANDON RAMIREZ | NLEX Road Warriors
Grade: A
In another case of “This guy’s still available?”, sweet-shooting big man Brandon Ramirez fell all the way to the middle of the second round. Jong Uichico and Virgil Villavicencio decided to make him wait no longer, and as a result, the NLEX frontcourt got even better.
19. PAO JAVILLONAR | Converge FiberXers
Grade: A-
Apparently, Aldin Ayo and Jacob Lao wanted to spam size in this year’s Draft. Pao Javillonar has the tools to play both forward positions in the PBA—not to mention an array of defensive tricks that will help him stand his ground against the league’s manongs.
20. MIGGY CORTEZA | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (traded to Blackwater Bossing)
Grade: A-
Blackwater could use another 3-and-D wing, which is precisely what Miggy Corteza can blossom into in his PBA career. His length, outside shooting, and constant movement are great assets that Coach Jeff Cariaso can tap into.
RELATED: Rain or Shine trades second-round pick Corteza to Blackwater
21. BEN PHILLIPS | Converge FiberXers
Grade: A-
As far as their frontcourt is concerned, Converge now has an embarrassment of riches. Ben Phillips fits the profile of stretch five that Aldin Ayo is fond of. And then, there are the intangibles—hard work on and off the court, along with the makings of a future locker room leader.
RELATED: Phillips eager to reunite with DLSU teammates at Converge In 2025
22. PAOLO HERNANDEZ | Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
Grade: B
There’s no denying that Paolo Hernandez brings a lot to the table: finding open teammates, hitting midrange shots, and even getting comfortable in the low post. The problem: Ginebra has an incredibly stacked guard lineup, which means that Hernandez will be fighting an uphill battle from day one.
23. KURT REYSON | Meralco Bolts
Grade: B+
After taking CJ Cansino in the first round, Meralco added even more firepower to their backcourt by taking Kurt Reyson with their second-round pick. A prolific shooter who shows up in the clutch, Reyson will have to bring his A-game in practice if he wants to be a key rotation player.
24. JASON CREDO | Converge FiberXers
Grade: B
Heading into his rookie season, Jason Credo is more Alec Stockton than Aljun Melecio. To earn his minutes in the FiberXers’ rotation, Credo will have to lean on his defensive chops, hound opposing guards, and force stops and turnovers as frequently as he can.