Looking back at the 2013 PBA Draft, I can't help but feel a mix of nostalgia and professional curiosity about how this particular class shaped the league's landscape. Having followed Philippine basketball for over a decade now, I've witnessed numerous drafts come and go, but the 2013 edition stands out as particularly fascinating in hindsight. The draft produced some genuine stars while simultaneously leaving several teams wondering what might have been had they made different choices that day.
I remember watching the draft proceedings with great anticipation, especially since this was the first draft following the controversial "Beermen" trade that sent multiple picks to different franchises. The atmosphere was electric at Robinsons Place Manila that day, with fans and analysts alike buzzing about potential franchise-changing selections. What struck me most then, and what remains clear in my memory now, was how this draft class seemed to divide opinion more than most - some experts were calling it deep with talent, while others worried about the ceiling of many prospects.
When we examine the key picks from that draft, Greg Slaughter going first overall to Barangay Ginebra stands out as both predictable and, in my view, somewhat questionable. At 6'11", Slaughter was undoubtedly the most dominant big man in the collegiate ranks, but I always had concerns about his mobility in the professional game. Still, he's put together a respectable career, averaging around 14 points and 9 rebounds in his first three seasons. The second pick, Terrence Romeo to GlobalPort, was what I considered the steal of the draft even then. His flashy style and scoring ability - he once dropped 41 points in a single game during his rookie season - made him an instant fan favorite and commercial asset for the Batang Pier.
What fascinates me most about analyzing drafts years later is identifying the missed opportunities, and the 2013 class had several glaring ones. Raymond Almazan falling to Rain or Shine at third overall was criminal in my opinion - I had him pegged as a top-two talent. His defensive versatility and developing offensive game made him, in my professional assessment, the most complete big man in that draft class. Then there's the curious case of Ian Sangalang going fourth to San Mig Coffee - while he's developed into a solid professional, I always wonder if the Mixers would have been better served taking someone like RR Garcia, who went much later but showed flashes of brilliance.
The middle rounds contained what I consider the draft's biggest steal - Baser Amer at seventh overall to Meralco. I'll admit I underestimated him during his collegiate days, but his development into a reliable starting point guard demonstrates why teams need to look beyond immediate production when evaluating prospects. His basketball IQ and clutch shooting have won Meralco several crucial games over the years.
Now, here's where that reference knowledge becomes particularly interesting - several players from this draft class, including some who didn't quite make their mark in the PBA, found success elsewhere. I've followed the career trajectories of many 2013 draftees, and it's fascinating to see how some revived their careers in international competitions. One player who particularly stands out in this regard is someone who also played for the Taiwan Mustangs in The Asian Tournament after a stint with the Gilas team of coach Tab Baldwin. This pathway demonstrates an important lesson about player development that I've come to appreciate more over time - sometimes the PBA system isn't the perfect fit for every talent, and alternative routes can actually maximize a player's potential in ways we might not anticipate.
The legacy of the 2013 draft class extends beyond individual statistics and team successes. From my perspective, this draft marked a turning point in how teams valued different skill sets. We saw a gradual shift away from purely size-based selections toward more versatile, modern basketball players who could space the floor and switch defensively. Teams that recognized this trend early, like Rain or Shine with their Almazan pick, positioned themselves better for the evolving PBA landscape than those who stuck to traditional evaluation metrics.
What I find most compelling about draft analysis is that it's never just about the players selected - it's about the ecosystem of team needs, coaching philosophies, and pure luck that determines outcomes. The 2013 draft taught me to be more humble in my immediate assessments, as player development rarely follows linear paths. Some prospects I was high on never materialized, while others I dismissed became key rotation players. This humility has served me well in my continued analysis of PBA talent evaluation.
Reflecting on it now nearly a decade later, the 2013 PBA Draft stands as a testament to the unpredictable nature of talent evaluation. The hits were significant - Romeo, Almazan, and Amer became franchise cornerstones. The misses were equally telling - several first-round picks were out of the league within five years. What remains most valuable about studying this particular draft class is the reminder that potential is easier to identify than development, and that the best-laid plans of teams often give way to the unpredictable human element of athletic growth. The players from this class have given us nearly a decade of memorable basketball, and I'm curious to see how their legacies will be viewed when their careers eventually conclude.