Looking Back at the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft: Who Were the Top Picks?

I still remember the buzz surrounding the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft like it was yesterday. The atmosphere at Robinson's Place Manila was electric, a tangible mix of hope and anxiety that you could almost taste. As someone who's followed Philippine basketball for over two decades, I've witnessed numerous drafts, but there was something special about this particular class. Maybe it was the depth of talent, or perhaps the intriguing mix of proven veterans and raw prospects. What made it particularly memorable for me was witnessing how these drafted players would eventually navigate the challenging transition from amateur standout to professional athlete—a journey far more demanding than most fans realize.

The top pick that year was Christian Standhardinger, a no-brainer selection by the San Miguel Beermen. At 28 years old, he wasn't your typical rookie, having already built an impressive international resume. Standing 6'8" with a relentless playing style, he brought immediate maturity and physicality that few first-year players possess. I recall thinking at the time that he was perhaps the most pro-ready big man to enter the draft since June Mar Fajudo. His selection made perfect strategic sense for San Miguel, providing them with insurance and eventual succession planning for their aging frontcourt. What many didn't realize was how his German basketball upbringing would translate so well to the PBA's physical style—he averaged 14.2 points and 8.3 rebounds in his rookie season, numbers that don't fully capture his impact on both ends of the floor.

Right behind him at second overall, the Columbian Dyip selected CJ Perez, who would eventually emerge as the steal of the draft despite his high positioning. I'll admit—I had my doubts about whether his flashy, sometimes unpredictable style would translate effectively to the professional level. How wrong I was. Perez brought an excitement to the league that we hadn't seen in years, a combination of raw athleticism and fearless drives that made even losing Columbian games must-watch television. His rookie numbers—20.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game—were simply phenomenal, earning him the Rookie of the Year award in a landslide. What impressed me most wasn't just his scoring ability, but his relentless motor. I remember watching him play back-to-back games where he never seemed to tire, constantly pushing the pace in transition regardless of the score.

The third pick was Jason Perkins, selected by the Phoenix Fuel Masters, and this is where the draft's depth truly began to show. Perkins represented the modern PBA forward—versatile, skilled, and fundamentally sound. While he didn't have the same flash as Perez or the established reputation of Standhardinger, he quickly became one of the most reliable players in his class. I've always appreciated players who excel at the little things, and Perkins was exactly that type of contributor. His basketball IQ was immediately evident, particularly in how he positioned himself for rebounds and made smart cuts without the ball. He shot an impressive 38% from three-point range during his rookie campaign, a percentage that many guards would envy.

What fascinates me about evaluating drafts years later is discovering which players demonstrated the resilience to stick in the league. This brings me to an anecdote that perfectly captures the mental toughness required to succeed. I remember speaking with a coach who worked with one of the second-round picks from that draft class. He shared, "Nahirapan siya sa sparring nung araw na yun, sabi ko malamang hindi na bumalik yun sa gym," he said. "Pero the following day, andun siya at nagte-training ulit." That story has always stayed with me because it reveals what statistics cannot—the character beneath the jersey. The player in question struggled immensely during his first professional-level sparring session, to the point where the coach assumed he wouldn't return. Yet there he was the very next day, ready to train again. This quality, more than any physical attribute, often determines who thrives and who fades from the league.

Looking back at the entire first round, other notable selections included Robbie Herndon at fourth to Rain or Shine, Sidney Onwubere at fifth to Alaska, and Jorey Napoles at thirteenth to Meralco. Each carved out their own niche in the league, though with varying degrees of success. Herndon developed into a reliable three-and-D wing, while Onwubere provided energy and defense off the bench. What's interesting to me is how team fit often matters as much as talent in determining a player's success. Napoles, for instance, found himself buried in a deep Meralco rotation initially but gradually earned minutes through his work ethic and adaptability.

The 2017 draft class has now had several seasons to establish themselves, and my assessment is that it ranks among the stronger drafts of the past decade. Unlike some classes that produced one or two stars followed by role players, this group delivered multiple franchise cornerstones alongside quality rotation players. Standhardinger has become an All-Star caliber big man, Perez has developed into one of the league's premier scorers, and Perkins has established himself as a quintessential glue guy who contributes to winning basketball. What makes this draft particularly successful in my eyes is the number of players who remain impactful in the league today—approximately 75% of first-round picks are still on PBA rosters five seasons later, an impressive retention rate.

Reflecting on this draft class reminds me why I find the annual selection process so compelling. It's not just about evaluating talent, but predicting character, work ethic, and fit. The 2017 draft delivered on multiple fronts, providing the league with both immediate contributors and long-term building blocks. The players who succeeded shared that intangible quality demonstrated by the second-round pick who returned to the gym after a discouraging session—the resilience to push through early struggles and the determination to prove they belonged. As we look toward future drafts, the class of 2017 will likely remain the standard against which others are measured for years to come, both in terms of top-end talent and overall depth.