Who Were the Top Picks in the 2015 PBA Rookie Draft and Where Are They Now?

Looking back at the 2015 PBA Rookie Draft feels like revisiting a pivotal moment in Philippine basketball history. I remember sitting in front of my television, notebook in hand, analyzing each pick with the intensity of a scout. That draft class was particularly special—it wasn't just about talent; it was about potential franchise players who could shape the league for years to come. The energy in the room was palpable even through the screen, with teams making calculated bets on who would become the next big star. As someone who's followed the PBA closely for over a decade, I've learned that draft nights can make or break franchises, and the 2015 edition was no exception. The top picks carried enormous expectations, not just from their teams but from an entire nation of basketball-crazy fans.

The first overall pick that year was Moala Tautuaa, selected by the TNT KaTropa. Standing at 6'7" with a versatile skill set, Tautuaa was seen as the complete package—a big man who could handle the ball, shoot from mid-range, and defend multiple positions. I recall watching his collegiate highlights and thinking he had the potential to revolutionize the Filipino big man archetype. Following him was Troy Rosario, another frontcourt talent who went second to the same franchise. What made this draft particularly interesting was how teams were prioritizing length and versatility, a clear response to the evolving global basketball landscape. The third pick, Chris Newsome, landed with the Meralco Bolts and immediately looked like a steal with his athleticism and two-way potential.

Fast forward to today, and it's fascinating to see how these careers have unfolded. Tautuaa, now with the San Miguel Beermen, has become a reliable rotation player though perhaps not quite the superstar some envisioned. He's won championships, which matters tremendously in the PBA context, but his statistical output—averaging around 8 points and 5 rebounds per game throughout his career—places him in the solid starter category rather than the franchise player tier. Rosario developed into a key piece for TNT, providing spacing with his three-point shooting and becoming an integral part of their championship runs. His evolution into a stretch four perfectly aligned with modern basketball trends, and I've always appreciated how he expanded his game beyond what was expected.

The most compelling story from that draft class, in my opinion, belongs to CJ Perez, who was actually the third overall pick but has arguably had the greatest impact. I remember watching his early struggles with injury and thinking about his quote from that time: "I hope bago mag-first game namin, makahabol ako. Ngayon talaga, nagre-rehab pa at strengthening." That statement perfectly captured the uncertainty of rookie transitions—the gap between potential and readiness, between draft night hype and actual court production. Perez's journey from rehabilitation to becoming the 2021 scoring champion and eventually landing with San Miguel showcases the nonlinear path of professional development. His case demonstrates how initial circumstances don't necessarily determine long-term outcomes in athlete careers.

Newsome's trajectory with Meralco has been equally impressive, evolving into one of the league's premier two-way guards and team leaders. Having covered numerous Bolts games, I've witnessed how his game matured—from an athletic rookie to a sophisticated playmaker who understands pace and spacing. What's often overlooked about the 2015 PBA Rookie Draft is how several later picks outperformed their draft positions. Players like Scottie Thompson (selected fourth) have become legitimate stars, proving that draft position isn't always destiny. Thompson's rebounding from the guard position and playmaking have made him one of the most unique talents in recent PBA history.

Reflecting on this draft class eight years later, what strikes me is how team context and development systems significantly influenced these careers. Some players landed in ideal situations with coaches who maximized their strengths, while others faced challenging fits that slowed their progression. The 2015 draft produced approximately 65% starters from its first round, a respectable hit rate considering the unpredictability of athlete development. Personally, I believe this draft class will be remembered as foundational to the PBA's modern era—it supplied franchises with cornerstone pieces who are still impacting the league today. The careers emerging from that night have given us everything from championship moments to individual brilliance, and as a basketball analyst, it's been a privilege to track their journeys from promising rookies to established professionals shaping Philippine basketball's present and future.