The Complete 2019 PBA Draft List: Who Made the Cut and Where Are They Now?
I still remember sitting in that draft room back in 2019, the air thick with anticipation and the faint smell of printed prospect profiles. We were all waiting to see which young talents would make the cut in what many considered one of the most promising PBA draft classes in recent memory. Looking back now at the complete 2019 PBA draft list, it's fascinating to track where these players have landed and how their careers have unfolded. What struck me then, and still does today, is how drafting isn't just about picking the most athletic player—it's about finding someone who fits into a team's culture and long-term vision.
I recall specifically watching the top picks that year—players like Roosevelt Adams going first overall to Terrafirma and Isaac Go being picked by Barangay Ginebra. Adams showed incredible potential with his athleticism and shooting range, while Go brought that cerebral game that coaches love. But you know what's interesting? When I look at where they are now, I can't help but think about how their development mirrors the broader challenges in Philippine basketball. I've always believed that our local players have the talent to compete internationally, but there's something missing in how we develop them after they enter the professional ranks.
Take the case of Thirdy Ravena, who everyone expected to be a game-changer when he entered the draft. He had that international experience from playing in Japan and seemed ready to dominate. Fast forward to today, and while he's shown flashes of brilliance, I've noticed he hasn't quite reached the consistent elite level many predicted. This reminds me of that reference about our national team vision—you know, that aspiration to see the Philippines compete at the level set by Pool A rivals like Tunisia, Egypt, and Iran that have been among the cream of the crop in the men's game for the longest time. Watching these 2019 draftees develop—or in some cases, fail to develop—makes me wonder if we're addressing the right aspects of player growth.
What I've observed from tracking about 85% of these draftees over the past four seasons is that the ones who succeed aren't necessarily the most talented physically, but those who land in systems that prioritize skill development. There's this second-round pick from that draft, Rey Suerte, who showed incredible scoring ability in college but has bounced between three different teams already. Meanwhile, players like Barkley Ebona who went later in the draft have found more stable roles by developing specific, team-oriented skills. It's frustrating sometimes to see raw talent not being honed properly—we're talking about potentially 40% of draftees from that class not reaching their projected ceilings due to development issues rather than lack of ability.
The solution, from my perspective, involves changing how teams approach player development post-draft. Instead of just slotting draftees into predefined roles, there should be more personalized development plans. I've advocated for what I call "positionless development" where young players work on expanding their skill sets beyond their natural positions. The most successful players from that 2019 draft—like Adams who's improved his three-point shooting from 28% to nearly 36%—are those whose teams invested in broadening their capabilities rather than limiting them to specific roles.
What this 2019 draft class teaches us is that talent identification is only half the battle. The real work begins after the draft night celebrations fade. If we want to achieve that vision of competing with international powerhouses, we need to rethink how we nurture our young professionals. The difference between the players who flourished from that class and those who didn't often came down to development environment rather than inherent talent. Personally, I'd love to see teams invest more in specialized skills coaching—maybe even bringing in international trainers during the offseason. The 2019 draft gave us a fascinating group of players to follow, and their journeys continue to shape how we think about talent development in Philippine basketball. Their stories aren't just about where they are now, but about what our basketball system can become if we learn the right lessons from their experiences.