Looking Back at the 2015 PBA Draft Results: Complete Picks and Analysis
Looking back at the 2015 PBA Draft always gives me a strange mix of nostalgia and professional curiosity. I remember sitting in the draft venue that year, feeling the electric anticipation in the air as teams prepared to make franchise-altering decisions. The 2015 draft class has proven to be one of the most fascinating in recent memory, producing several players who would become cornerstones of their teams while others faded into obscurity despite their college credentials. What strikes me most about analyzing this draft class today is how it reflects the evolving landscape of Philippine basketball talent development, especially when we consider how players from alternative leagues like the MPBL are now knocking on the PBA's door.
The first round selections that year were particularly telling of team strategies. Moala Tautuaa going first overall to TNT Tropang Giga felt almost inevitable given his physical tools and potential, though I've always wondered if Troy Rosario might have been the better long-term choice at that spot. Rosario went second to the same team and has developed into exactly the kind of modern big man that today's game demands. The third pick saw Chris Newsome land at Meralco, a selection I initially questioned but have since come to appreciate as one of the steals of that draft. Newsome's athleticism and two-way versatility have made him indispensable to the Bolts. What fascinates me about these top picks isn't just their individual success, but how they've shaped their respective franchises over these past eight seasons.
When we dive deeper into that draft, the narrative becomes even more compelling. The fourth selection saw Scottie Thompson go to Barangay Ginebra, a pick that many analysts considered risky at the time given Thompson's unorthodox style coming out of University of Perpetual Help. I'll admit I was among the skeptics, but watching him develop into an MVP has been one of the most rewarding scouting journeys of my career. His evolution demonstrates why teams must sometimes look beyond conventional metrics when evaluating prospects. Meanwhile, players like Norbert Torres (fifth to Rain or Shine) and Mark Cruz (sixth to Purefoods) have had more modest careers, though both have shown flashes of the talent that made them first-round selections.
The second round contained several players who have carved out meaningful roles despite their draft position. Von Pessumal (17th overall to GlobalPort) has developed into a reliable three-point specialist, while Joseph Eriobu (20th to Purefoods) has shown he can contribute meaningful minutes when given the opportunity. What I find particularly interesting about these later picks is how their development paths differ from the first-round selections. Without the same immediate pressure to perform, many of these players have taken longer to find their footing in the league, yet several have emerged as valuable rotation pieces.
This brings me to the current context where we're seeing MPBL stars attempting to transition to the PBA. The reference to "one of the most prolific scorers in the MPBL looking to make it to the PBA this season" resonates deeply when I consider the 2015 draft class. Back then, the path to the PBA was more straightforward - excel in college or established amateur leagues, then declare for the draft. Today, the MPBL has become a legitimate proving ground, and I've personally scouted several players there who could have been first-round talents in that 2015 draft. The success of players like Thompson who came from less traditional backgrounds has perhaps opened teams' eyes to looking beyond the usual talent pools.
What stands out statistically about the 2015 draft is the remarkable hit rate in the first round. Of the 12 first-round selections, approximately 8 have become regular rotation players, with at least 3 developing into legitimate stars. The draft produced 4 eventual All-Stars and 1 MVP in Thompson, numbers that compare favorably to most draft classes of the past decade. From my analysis, the teams that succeeded most in this draft were those that prioritized versatility and basketball IQ over raw physical tools alone. The players who have lasted in the league tend to be those who could contribute in multiple ways rather than being one-dimensional specialists.
The legacy of the 2015 draft continues to influence how teams approach player evaluation today. I've noticed scouting departments placing greater emphasis on professional experience in alternative leagues, partly because of how well some of the 2015 draftees have adapted to the PBA game. The success stories from this class have also shifted how teams value certain skills - Thompson's rebounding from the guard position, for instance, has become a prized commodity that teams now specifically look for in prospects. Personally, I believe we'll look back at the 2015 draft as a turning point in how Philippine basketball organizations assess and develop talent.
As we reflect on these draft results nearly a decade later, the perspective becomes clearer. The teams that drafted for fit and culture rather than simply taking the "best available" player tend to have reaped the greatest rewards. The development trajectories of these players remind us that draft position, while important, doesn't determine destiny in professional basketball. With the MPBL now producing talent that could potentially follow in the footsteps of the 2015 class success stories, I'm more convinced than ever that the future of Philippine basketball talent identification lies in casting a wider net and recognizing potential in its various forms. The 2015 draft wasn't just about the players selected - it was about the evolving philosophy of team building in the PBA.
