PBA DRAFT | TOP PICK HISTORY

This is a companion piece to my PBA Draft articles. It features every top overall pick, along with their birth year, draft year, age during the calendar year they were drafted, and the accomplishments they achieved with the team that selected them.

Since the draft's inception, only three players have starred for and retired with the team that drafted them. That said, Gabe Norwood's career is very different from those of Apet Jao and Alex Araneta.

Jao spent most of his PBA career as Allan Caidic's understudy. Injuries prevented Alex Araneta from ever fully realizing his potential, and he was out of Alaska before the team's 1996 Grand Slam season. Meanwhile, when Welcoat rebranded as Rain or Shine and selected Norwood as the top overall pick in 2008, the franchise went from being the league's whipping boys to legitimate contenders.

Sonny Cabatu was the first player selected in the inaugural PBA Draft in 1985. However, with many of the league's Hall of Fame pioneers and biggest stars from the 1970s still active, it was difficult for him, as well as 1986 top overall pick Rey Cuenco, to assert themselves from the very beginning.

Jack Tanuan, Sonny Alvarado, and Paolo Mendoza were top overall picks only by technicality. Tanuan was selected first after Purefoods elevated Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codinera, Glenn Capacio, and Jojo Lastimosa directly from the PABL. Meanwhile, Alvarado and Mendoza became top overall picks during the era when PBA teams were also allowed to directly hire Fil-Ams and MBA stars.

And while Alvarado put up insane numbers during his rookie season, he was also the only top overall pick widely considered a sham. He never returned to the PBA after being deported because of citizenship issues.

Jay Washington never got to play for Air21, as he was immediately traded to Talk 'N Text in a deal that also involved Air21's returning top overall pick, Yancy de Ocampo, along with Macmac Cardona and Patrick Fran. Nonoy Baclao and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser never got to finish their rookie seasons with the teams that drafted them.

Meanwhile, Rich Alvarez and Jvee Casio had the unfortunate distinction of being traded after their rookie seasons because their franchises either disbanded or quickly sold off their assets after new ownership took over.

Japeth Aguilar, meanwhile, played just one game for Burger King. After regretting his decision to enter the draft, he was eventually traded to Talk 'N Text for a boatload of first-round picks, one of which was later used to select June Mar Fajardo.

Benjie Paras remains the league's only Rookie MVP. Aside from June Mar Fajardo, Danny Ildefonso and Willie Miller are the only other top overall picks to have won the MVP award twice.

Miller is also the only top overall pick to have played in the MBA. Andy Seigle is recognized as the first U.S.-based player to be selected first overall in the PBA Draft. Meanwhile, Justine Baltazar became the first MPBL player to be selected as the top overall pick in the PBA Draft.

San Miguel's acquisition of Christian Standhardinger through a draft pick trade is widely regarded as one of the worst draft-day deals in PBA history. However, it's also worth noting that Shell once traded for Manny Victorino and Jimmy Manansala in exchange for Philip Cezar, Bernie Fabiosa, and the draft rights to Allan Caidic.

Not only did The Triggerman go on to become one of the greatest players in league history, but Victorino left for Great Taste/Presto after just two seasons, while Manansala played only 47 games over three seasons with Shell before retiring after the 1989 PBA season.

At least the trade eventually helped Shell secure the top overall pick in the 1989 PBA Draft, which they used to select Benjie Paras.

Anyway, here are the other top picks from 1985 to 2025.

PBA DRAFT TOP PICKS	DRAFT	YOB	AGE	FIRST TEAM RESULTS
SONNY CABATU SHELL	1985	1960	25	3 SEASONS 5.0PPG - 5.5RPG - 0.5BPG
REY CUENCO ALASKA	1986	1960	26	1 SEASON 5.4PPG - 3.6RPG - 0.5BPG
ALLAN CAIDIC GREAT TASTE	1987	1963	24	MVP | 1 MYTHICAL 5 | 5 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR SCORING CHAMPION | 4 CHAMPIONSHIPS | 2 6 SEASONS 23.7PPG - 3.4RPG - 2.7APG
JACK TANUAN PUREFOODS	1988	1965	23	CHAMPIONSHIP | 1 4 COMPLETE SEASONS (FROM STA. LUCIA) 3.9PPG - 2.2RPG - 0.2BPG 1 INCOMPLETE SEASON (SIGNED WITH SWIFT)
BENJIE PARAS SHELL	1989	1968	21	MVP | 2 BPC | 1 FINALS MVP | 1 MYTHICAL 5 | 5 MYTHICAL 10 | 2 CHAMPIONSHIPS | 4 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 14 SEASONS 18.0PPG - 7.7RPG - 2.3BPG
PETER JAO GREAT TASTE	1990	1966	24	CHAMPIONSHIPS | 1 5 SEASONS (3 W/ PRESTO, 2 W/ STA. LUCIA) 6.8PPG - 1.8RPG - 1.1APG
ALEX ARANETA ALASKA	1991	1967	24	CHAMPIONSHIPS | 3 5 SEASONS 5.2PPG - 3.7RPG - 0.6APG
VERGEL MENESES PRESTO	1992	1969	23	1 COMPLETE SEASON 17.7PPG - 2.2RPG - 1.6APG 1 INCOMPLETE SEASON (TRADED TO SWIFT ALONGSIDE ZALDY REALUBIT FOR ANDY DE GUZMAN, JACK TANUAN, AND RICRIC MARATA)
JUN LIMPOT STA. LUCIA	1993	1971	22	MYTHICAL 10 | 2 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR SCORING CHAMPION | 1 7 SEASONS 19.5PPG - 7.3RPG - 2.3APG
NOLI LOCSIN TONDENA	1994	1971	23	MYTHICAL 10 | 2 CHAMPIONSHIPS | 1 5 COMPLETE SEASONS 14.9PPG - 7.7RPG - 2.6APG 1 INCOMPLETE SEASON (TRADED TO POP COLA FOR VERGEL MENESES)
DENNIS ESPINO STA. LUCIA	1995	1973	22	FINALS MVP | 1 MYTHICAL 5 | 2 DPOY | 1 CHAMPIONSHIPS | 2 14 SEASONS 13.9PPG - 6.8RPG - 2.0APG
MARLOU AQUINO GINEBRA	1996	1972	24	BPC FINALS MVP | 1 MYTHICAL 5 | 2 DPOY | 1 CHAMPIONSHIPS | 1 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 4 SEASONS 16.6PPG - 7.8RPG - 2.4BPG
ANDY SEIGLE MOBILINE	1997	1972	25	CHAMPIONSHIPS | 1* (PBA CENTENNIAL CUP) ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 2 COMPLETE SEASONS 13.5PPG - 9.9RPG - 1.8BPG 1 COMPLETE SEASON (TRADED TO PUREFOODS FOR JERRY CODINERA)
DANNY ILDEFONSO SAN MIGUEL	1998	1976	22	MVP | 2 BPC | 5 FINALS MVP | 3 MYTHICAL 5 | 2 MYTHICAL 10 | 3 CHAMPIONSHIPS | 8 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 15 SEASONS 11.5PPG - 6.3RPG - 2.4APG
SONNY ALVARADO TANDUAY	1999	1973	26	MYTHICAL 5 | 1 2 SEASONS 23.3PPG - 13.2RPG - 3.8APG (LEFT COUNTRY DUE TO CITIZENSHIP ISSUES)
PAOLO MENDOZA STA. LUCIA	2000	1978	22	CHAMPIONSHIPS | 2 9 COMPLETE SEASONS 7.9PPG - 2.1RPG - 2.3APG 1 INCOMPLETE SEASON (TRADED TO COCA-COLA FOR CHRIS ROSS)
WILLIE MILLER RED BULL	2001	1977	24	MVP | 1 FINALS MVP | 1 MYTHICAL 5 | 1 CHAMPIONSHIPS | 2 3 SEASONS 10.3PPG - 3.6RPG - 3.0APG
YANCY DE OCAMPO FEDEX	2002	1980	22	3 SEASONS 7.9PPG - 6.9RPG - 0.6BPG (TRADED TO TNT FOR A FUTURE FIRST-ROUND PICK, THEN TRADED BACK TO AIR21 ALONGSIDE PATRICK FRAN FOR JAY WASHINGTON AND MACMAC CARDONA)
MIKE CORTEZ ALASKA	2003	1980	23	MYTHICAL 10 | 1 CHAMPIONSHIPS | 1* (2003 PBA INVITATIONAL CUP) 4 COMPLETE SEASONS 12.0PPG - 4.1RPG - 4.7APG 1 INCOMPLETE SEASON (TRADED TO SMB ALONGSIDE KEN BONO FOR LA TENORIO AND LARRY FONACIER)
RICH ALVAREZ SHELL	2004	1980	24	ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 1 SEASON 8.8PPG - 6.4RPG - 2.4APG (SHELL DISBANDED AFTER HIS ROOKIE SEASON)
JAY WASHINGTON AIR21	2005	1981	24	DID NOT PLAY (TRADED TO AIR21 ALONGSIDE MACMAC CARDONA FOR YANCY DE OCAMPO AND PATRICK FRAN)
KELLY WILLIAMS STA. LUCIA	2006	1982	24	MVP | 1 BPC | 1 MYTHICAL 5 | 2 CHAMPIONSHIPS | 1 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 3 SEASONS 16.8PPG - 10.2RPG - 1.9APG
JOE DEVANCE WELCOAT	2007	1982	25	1 SEASON 13.6PPG - 6.3RPG - 1.1APG
GABE NORWOOD RAIN OR SHINE	2008	1985	23	MYTHICAL 10 | 1 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR DPOY | 1 CHAMPIONSHIPS | 2
JAPETH AGUILAR BURGER KING	2009	1987	22	1 GAME 10PTS, 9REB, 1BLK ONLY PLAYED 1 GAME THEN WAS TRADED TO TNT (LOANED TO SMART-GILAS)
NONOY BACLAO AIR21	2010	1987	23	CHAMPIONSHIPS | 1 INCOMPLETE SEASON (TRADED TO PETRON ALONGSIDE RABEH AL-HUSSAINI AND REY GUEVARRA FOR DANNY SEIGLE, DONDON HONTIVEROS, DORIAN PENA, AND PAUL ARTADI)
JVEE CASIO POWERADE	2011	1986	25	1 SEASON 11.9PPG - 3.1RPG - 6.4APG
JUNE MAR FAJARDO PETRON	2012	1989	23	MVP | 9 BPC | 13 FINALS MVP | 5 MYTHICAL 5 | 10 MYTHICAL 10 | 1 DPOY | 1 CHAMPIONSHIPS | 12 (AS OF AUG 2026) MOST IMPROVED PLAYER 13 SEASONS (INC) 17.6PPG - 12.6RPG - 1.5BPG
GREG SLAUGHTER GINEBRA	2013	1988	25	BPC | 1 MYTHICAL 5 | 1 MYTHICAL 10 | 1 CHAMPIONSHIPS | 4 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 6 SEASONS 13.8PPG - 8.9RPG - 1.2BPG
STANLEY PRINGLE GLOBALPORT	2014	1987	27	MYTHICAL 5 | 1 MYTHICAL 10 | 1 SCORING CHAMPION | 1 4 COMPLETE SEASONS 18.4PPG - 6.1RPG - 4.4APG 1 INCOMPLETE SEASON (TRADED TO GINEBRA FOR KEVIN FERRER, JERVY CRUZ, AND SOL MERCADO)
MO TAUTUAA TNT	2015	1989	26	2 COMPLETE SEASONS 8.3PPG - 4.4RPG - 1.0APG 1 INCOMPLETE SEASON (TRADED TO NORTHPORT ALONGSIDE 1 FIRST-ROUND AND 1 SECOND-ROUND PICK FOR TERRENCE ROMEO AND YOUSEF TAHA)
CHRISTIAN STANDHARDINGER SAN MIGUEL	2017	1989	28	1 COMPLETE SEASON 16.1PPG - 9.3RPG - 1.5APG 1 INCOMPLETE SEASON (TRADED TO NORTHPORT FOR MO TAUTUAA)
CJAY PEREZ COLUMBIAN	2018	1993	25	MYTHICAL 5 | 1 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR SCORING CHAMPION | 2 2 SEASONS 21.7PPG - 7.3RPG - 3.6APG
ROOSEVELT ADAMS COLUMBIAN	2019	1994	25	2 SEASONS 9.7PPG - 7.1RPG - 0.6SPG
JOSHUA MUNZON TERRAFIRMA	2021	1995	26	1 COMPLETE SEASON 16.6PPG - 3.4RPG - 2.6APG 1 INCOMPLETE SEASON (TRADED TO NORTHPORT FOR KEVIN FERRER)
BRANDON GANUELAS-ROSSER BLACKWATER	2022	1994	28	1 INCOMPLETE SEASON (TRADED TO NLEX IN A THREE-WAY TRADE THAT ALSO INVOLVED TROY ROSARIO GOING TO BLACKWATER AND CALVIN OFTANA GOING TO TNT)
STEPHEN HOLT TERRAFIRMA	2023	1991	32	MYTHICAL 10 | 1 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 1 SEASON 17.0PPG - 6.9RPG - 5.5APG
JUSTINE BALTAZAR CONVERGE	2024	1997	27	ONGOING
GEO CHIU TERRAFIRMA	2025	2001	24	ONGOING