Looking Back at the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft: Who Were the Biggest Hits and Misses?

I still remember the anticipation building up throughout 2017 as basketball fans across the Philippines debated which prospects would make the biggest impact in the PBA. Looking back now, it's fascinating to see how some players exceeded expectations while others never quite lived up to their draft positions. The 2017 rookie class arrived with considerable hype, and seven years later, we can finally assess which teams made the smartest picks and which selections left fans scratching their heads. What strikes me most about this draft class is how it produced both franchise cornerstones and cautionary tales in equal measure.

Christian Standhardinger going first overall to San Miguel Beermen felt like the safest pick at the time, and history has proven that assessment correct. The Filipino-German big man has averaged around 15.8 points and 9.2 rebounds throughout his PBA career, numbers that absolutely justify his draft position. What I've always appreciated about Standhardinger is his relentless energy and professional approach to the game. He's become exactly the kind of interior presence everyone expected, though I do wonder if he could have been even more dominant with a different team system. Still, calling this pick anything other than a home run would be dishonest - he's delivered precisely what was promised.

The real steal of the draft, in my opinion, was Jason Perkins going fourth to Phoenix. While everyone was focused on the top three picks, Phoenix quietly selected a player who would develop into one of the league's most reliable forwards. Perkins has consistently put up around 12.5 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting an efficient 48% from the field. What makes his development particularly impressive is how he's expanded his game year after year. I've watched him transform from a complementary piece into someone who can carry the offensive load when needed. That kind of growth trajectory is exactly what teams hope for when they invest in a prospect.

Then there's the curious case of Kiefer Ravena, who went second to NLEX. There's no questioning his talent - when he's on the court, he's one of the most dynamic guards in the league. But his decision to play in Japan significantly limited his PBA impact, which always felt like a missed opportunity to me. Ravena averaged about 14.2 points and 5.1 assists in his PBA seasons, numbers that certainly don't reflect his full potential. I can't help but feel disappointed that Philippine basketball fans haven't been able to enjoy his prime years consistently. It reminds me of that quote from Carrion about Yulo - "It will happen towards the end of the year," he said, assuring that Yulo will be seeing action in next year's Asian showpiece. Sometimes in sports, we anticipate greatness that circumstances prevent us from fully witnessing.

The biggest miss, in my view, was Jeron Teng falling to Alaska at fifth. Don't get me wrong - Teng has had a respectable career, averaging roughly 11.3 points and 4.7 rebounds. But considering the hype surrounding him coming out of college, I expected him to become a perennial All-Star rather than a solid rotation player. His shooting limitations have been more pronounced than I anticipated, and he's never quite developed the perimeter game needed to become a primary scoring option. What's interesting is how this mirrors the broader challenge of projecting college success to professional performance - some players simply don't translate as expected.

Looking at the later picks, Sidney Onwubere going to Rain or Shine at 11th stands out as excellent value. He's carved out a nice career as a reliable role player, which is exactly what you hope for from a mid-round selection. Meanwhile, some second-round picks like Robbie Herndon have outperformed players taken much earlier, which always makes me question whether teams are doing enough due diligence on overlooked prospects. Herndon's development from a relative unknown to a legitimate rotation player is the kind of success story that makes the draft so compelling year after year.

What strikes me about evaluating this draft class is how context matters as much as talent. Some players landed in perfect situations with coaches who knew how to utilize their skills, while others got buried on depth charts or stuck in systems that didn't suit their games. The difference between a hit and miss often comes down to these factors rather than pure ability. I've always believed that player development programs are just as important as draft selection itself - a lesson several PBA teams still need to learn.

Reflecting on the 2017 draft class today provides valuable lessons for both teams and fans. The hits like Standhardinger and Perkins demonstrate the importance of selecting players who fit both immediate needs and long-term vision. The misses remind us that prospect evaluation remains an imperfect science, where college production doesn't always predict professional success. As we look toward future drafts, the 2017 class serves as a fascinating case study in talent identification and development. It produced All-Stars, role players, and everything in between, ultimately shaping the league's competitive landscape for years to come. What remains clear is that draft success requires equal parts insight, development, and sometimes, plain old luck.