PBA Rookie Draft 2017: Complete Guide to Top Picks and Team Selections

I still remember sitting in front of the TV during the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft, feeling that unique mix of anticipation and skepticism that comes with every major sports draft. Having followed Philippine basketball for over a decade, I've learned that draft night often reveals as much about team strategies as it does about player potential. The 2017 class was particularly fascinating because it came at a time when the league was transitioning toward valuing mental toughness as much as physical talent. That year, 37 hopefuls heard their names called, but only a handful would truly make their mark in the coming seasons.

What struck me most about the top picks was how their preparation mirrored something I'd observed in successful veterans. Christian Standhardinger going first overall to San Miguel made perfect sense to me - not just because of his obvious physical tools, but because I'd heard whispers about his meticulous mental preparation. The thing that separates good players from great ones often isn't their physical gifts but their mental discipline. I've always believed that the players who last in this league are those who, to borrow from an insight about professional development, take time not only to prepare their bodies but also to sharpen their minds. Standhardinger understood this, spending extra hours studying game footage and working with sports psychologists even before the draft. His selection set the tone for what would become a theme throughout the first round - teams prioritizing players with demonstrated mental resilience alongside physical readiness.

When Kiefer Ravena went second to NLEX, I remember thinking this was perhaps the smartest pick of the draft. At 6'0", he wasn't the most physically imposing prospect, but having watched him dominate in the UAAP, I knew his basketball IQ was off the charts. The Road Warriors were getting someone who could process the game at an elite level - a point guard who could read defenses two passes ahead. Then came Raymar Jose to Blackwater at number three, another player known for his work ethic and mental preparation. What many fans don't realize is that the weeks leading up to the draft involve intense psychological evaluation - teams aren't just testing vertical leaps but assessing how players handle pressure, adapt to schemes, and process complex information. These three top picks exemplified the league's growing recognition that physical metrics alone don't determine success.

Looking back, the most interesting selection might have been Jason Perkins going fourth to Phoenix. Many experts had him pegged later in the first round, but the Fuel Masters saw something special in his approach to the game. I spoke with a team scout who mentioned how Perkins spent the month before the draft working with cognitive trainers to improve his decision-making speed. This focus on mental sharpness reminded me of something a veteran coach once told me: "We can teach plays, but we can't teach brains." The middle of the first round saw teams like GlobalPort selecting Robbie Herndon and San Miguel adding Louie Vigil - both players known for their basketball intelligence and ability to quickly absorb complex systems.

As the draft progressed into the second round, teams took calculated risks on players with specific mental attributes. Jorey Napoles going to Rain or Shine at pick 13 stood out to me because the Elasto Painters have always valued players who can handle their complex defensive schemes. Having watched their system over the years, I can attest that their success often comes from drafting players who can mentally adapt to multiple positions and responsibilities. The later rounds saw teams like Magnolia selecting Joseph Eriobu and Ginebra adding Davon Potts - players who might not have been the most athletic prospects but brought specific mental toughness that fit their systems perfectly.

Reflecting on that draft class six years later, what's remarkable is how many of these players have carved out significant careers. About 65% of the drafted players remain in the league today, which is actually higher than the historical average of around 55% for PBA drafts. The ones who've succeeded longest aren't necessarily the most physically gifted but those who continuously work on their mental game. I've come to believe that the 2017 draft represented a turning point where teams systematically started valuing cognitive abilities alongside traditional metrics. The players who understood that they needed to train their minds as rigorously as their bodies have generally had more sustainable careers. In a league where physical peaks are often short, mental sharpness can extend a player's relevance for years beyond what their athleticism alone would allow.