Most memorable draft moments

We have seen the brightest, the saddest, and the most laughable draft moments during our time. Do you still remember them?

Drafting of Robert “Dudut” Jaworski Jr. by Gordon’s Gin with the 10th pick of the 1995 PBA Draft. It marked the first time both father and son would be on one team. They were not able to play together on the floor, however, as different circumstances set in, including coach Jaworski’s sudden resignation in the aftermath of the appointment of Allan Caidic as playing coach of Ginebra.

Alaska trading Kenneth Duremdes to Sta Lucia Realty during draftday of 2003. Alaska fell in love with a crack guard from Hawaii by the name of Brandon Lee Cablay. Several tapes displaying Cablay’s multi-varied skills was on showcase days leading into the draft and the highly-impressed Milkmen made a move that would surprise everyone including Duremdes himself. When the trade was announced during draft day, everyone was in awe. Duremdes was one of Alaska’s most prized possession and he was traded for a player no one has ever seen even during the eve of the draft.

Caguioa who? Ginebra fanatics were in disbelief after their favorite team just announced that they have drafted Fil-am Mark Caguioa with the 3rd pick of the 2001 PBA draft. Mark Caguioa was unknown in local cage circuits but he was big in the minor collegiate and high school circuits in the US. It turned out that not only Ginebra knew who this fair-headed kid was. Talk N Text engineered several deals to push themselves on the top 4 of the draft’s pecking order. They were too late. Ginebra beat them to the draw.

Gordon’s Gin passed with their first pick in the third round only to change its mind later and drafted Lou Regidor with their second pick in the third round. Apparently, San Miguel, Gordon’s Gin’s sister team, was wary that Pepsi and Shell would get Regidor with their respective turns in the third round and instructed Gordon’s Gin to draft the guard out of University of San Carlos. The Gin Kings released Regidor

Tug-of-war between Purefoods and Sunkist for the services of Fil-am Nic Belasco.
Purefoods claimed that Belasco was their discovery citing an unknown “Finders’ Keepers” Rule but Sunkist had a better leverage. They had the second overall pick in the draft as opposed to the Hotdogs fifth overall pick and exercised that right to beat Purefoods to the draw.

Drafting of Sonny Cabatu with the first overall pick of the 1985 PBA Draft. It was the first time an organized draft activity was held by the PBA. Although it was not shown to public (only held at the PBA office), the excitement of first overall pick in the first ever PBA draft was unparalleled and would set a glorious tradition that would still be observed by the league until now.

Bethune “Siot” Tanquincen as the lone remaining undrafted player on the stands in the 1998 PBA Draft. Tanquincen was a crack guard out of UST but was deemed just a borderline pro prospect by scouts. He was crafty but his athletic ability and game skills left a lot to be desired. Fresh out of a stint in Magnolia (SMC’s farm team in the PBL), Tanquincen, despite the tremendous odds facing him, remained hopeful that a few teams (including San Miguel) would take a chance on him and draft him. Draft hopefuls were on the stands for all the public to see. As Siot waited for his name to be called, other aspirants were getting called by the teams that drafted them and soon Siot was left by his lonesome – highly-embarrassed that most of his compatriots were gone. Heaven sunk on him as all teams passed up on him. The last pick of the draft by the way was Augusto Ramirez, a 6-4 frontliner who did not even see a glimpse of PBA action.

Ginebra drafting Marlou Aquino after two years of waiting. Marlou Aquino waited for two years to gain entry into the pro league. Aquino applied for the 1994 PBA Draft but was denied entry because he was less than 23 years old and have only 18 units of college credit. It seemed he was destined to play for Ginebra because the following year he was still short of college credits. In 1996, there was no stopping Marlou from getting into the pro league. He was at a ripe age of 23 and felt a sigh of relief upon hearing his name on the draft stands.

Farcical draft of 1999. The threat of the MBA during the late 90s was for real and the PBA had to counter with a bomb of its own even it meant compromising the essence of the draft. The PBA allowed teams to directly hire one Fil-foreigner and one homegrown talent. The result was a complete farce. Don Allado, who was one of the emerging big man in the amateur ranks was drafted 8th overall by Alaska, way below his real worth as a player while guard Robin Mendoza who was not even the top point guard in the amateur circuit, was drafted by Ginebra second overall.