HIGHLIGHTS: 2024 PBA Season 49 Draft

By: 4 months ago

2024 PBA Season 49 Draft

Glorietta 4 Activity Center

The PBA held its Season 49 Rookie Draft at Glorietta 4 Activity Center in Makati City. The Converge FiberXers own the number one overall selection after finishing at the bottom of the standings last season.

Former La Salle standout Justine Baltazar, as expected, was selected first overall. Among the other notable players in the class are Fil-American Sedrick Barefield, who went to Blackwater at No. 2, forward Kai Ballungay and guards RJ Abarrientos and Jerom Lastimosa. Ballungay, a versatile forward out of Ateneo, went to Phoenix at No. 4 while Abarrientos was Barangay Ginebra’s surprise pick at No. 3.

PBA: Evan Nelle gets to play for Bonnie Tan this time

NorthPort coach Bonnie Tan and second round pick Evan Nelle during the 2024 PBA Draft.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Of all the coaches Evan Nelle would play for to begin his PBA career, he ended up with Bonnie Tan at NorthPort.

The two have a history together with Tan, who was still calling the shots for Letran, steered the Knights to an NCAA championship in 2019 at the expense of San Beda, which had Nelle as its starting point guard.

PBA: Phoenix adds to versatility by picking Kai Ballungay

Phoenix coach Jamike Jarin and fourth overall pick Kai Ballungay during the 2024 PBA Draft.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—The PBA Draft continues to be a charm for Phoenix coach Jamike Jarin.

After getting more than what he had hoped for last season with the selections of Ricci Rivero, Ken Tuffin and Raffy Verano, Jarin got another dynamic forward in the form of Kai Ballungay.

PBA: CJ Cansino sees being a good fit with Meralco

Meralco Bolts’ CJ Cansino during the 2024 PBA Draft.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—CJ Cansino was taken by Meralco in the first round of the 2024 PBA Draft and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Being drafted 11th overall is nice enough, but being picked by a team that perfectly fits your style of play must be a different feeling.

PBA: Ayo, Converge fulfill their needs by drafting Justine Baltazar

Justine Baltazar during the 2024 PBA Draft.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—For Converge coach Aldin Ayo, taking Justine Baltazar first overall in the 2024 PBA Draft was a no-brainer.

Ayo said the 6-foot-9 Baltazar has everything he’s looking for to turn the FiberXers’ fortunes around after a forgettable season.

Sixth round recap

Robbie Darang is the last player picked in the 2024 PBA Draft

Fifth round recap

Fourth round recap

Third round recap

2024 PBA Season 49 Draft (Second round)

Converge coach Aldin Ayo and top pick Justine Baltazar

Second round recap

Ex-Adamson guard Didat Hanapi goes to Ginebra in the second round

Evan Nelle is off the board after going to NorthPort in the second round

PBA Draft: Baltazar, Barefield and a few first round surprises

Jonnel Policarpio is picked sixth by NLEX in the 2024 PBA Draft.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Converge predictably chose Justine Baltazar as the first overall pick of the 2024 PBA Draft but there were also some surprises on Sunday.

Baltazar has been the consensus top pick since announcing his intent to join the draft a few months ago while Fil-American guard Sedrick Barefield was also expected to go to Blackwater at No. 2. Barangay Ginebra, however, decided to shake things up and added another guard to their stacked backcourt rotation by taking RJ Abarrientos as the third overall pick.

2024 PBA Season 49 Draft (First round)

PBA Draft first round recap

Reigning Philippine Cup champion Meralco drafts CJ Cansino

Former Adamson star Jerom Lastimosa goes to Magnolia

Jonnel Policarpio, the PBA Rookie Draft Combine MVP, is drafted by NLEX

Another Ildefonso officially in the PBA with Dave going to NorthPort

Kai Ballungay to Phoenix at No. 4

PBA Draft: Ginebra makes surprise move by taking RJ Abarrientos at No. 3

Barangay Ginebra picks guard RJ Abarrientos in the 2024 PBA Draft. Abarrientos, who played for FEU in the UAAP and had stints in the KBL and B.League, is currently playing for Strong Group in the William Jones Cup in Taipei.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Barangay Ginebra continued to inject youth into its lineup, selecting RJ Abarrientos third overall in the PBA Rookie Draft Sunday at Glorietta in Makati City.

The Gin Kings, which swapped its No. 10 pick with the Terrafirma franchise in a deal that included Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle on the eve of the annual selection, will be reeling in a 24-year-old Abarrientos who has played for Gilas Pilipinas and plied his wares in Korea and Japan.

Barangay Ginebra takes RJ Abarrientos at No. 3 in the PBA Draft

PBA Draft: Sedrick Barefield goes to Blackwater at No. 2

MANILA, Philippines–Sedrick Barefield, a crafty 6-foot-2 point guard battle-hardened by multiple overseas stints, was drafted second overall by the Blackwater franchise in the PBA Season 49 Rookie Draft held at Glorietta’s atrium in Makati City on Sunday.

The Filipino-American hotshot, born in the United States to a Filipino mother, is no longer a stranger to the local style of play having suited up for the Strong Group Athletics in Dubai and the Bay Area Dragons and Taipei Fubon Braves that played PBA clubs in the past.

Justine Baltazar picked first overall by Converge in PBA Draft

Justine Baltazar is the first overall pick by the Converge FiberXers in the 2024 PBA Season 49 Draft.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Former Gilas Pilipinas cadet Justine Baltazar, to nobody’s surprise, was taken first overall by the Converge FiberXers on Sunday in the PBA Season 49 Rookie Draft.

At Converge, Baltazar reunites with his former coach Aldin Ayo, his mentor at La Salle in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

Justine Baltazar is the first overall pick in the 2024 PBA Draft

2024 PBA Season 49 Draft order

Converge keeps everyone guessing on selection day eve

Justine Baltazar during the PBA Rookie Draft combine.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

There’s no doubt in Converge’s mind that the process of deciding which player to select first in Sunday’s PBA Rookie Draft is a difficult one.

“It’s difficult because you’ll have a lot of second-guessing,” coach Aldin Ayo said as the FiberXers will finally get to reveal who’s worthy to be tagged as the man who could be the cornerstone for the franchise’s goal of turning things around.

Ginebra lets go of ‘studs’ to address aging roster

Ginebra trades away veterans Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle to Terrafirma in exchange for Stephen Holt, Isaac Go and a draft pick. –PBA IMAGES

It was a massive deal considering the names involved, but beneath the surface of the trade that sent Barangay Ginebra veterans Christian Standhardinger and Stanley Pringle to Terrafirma is a pick swap that could affect how Sunday’s PBA Rookie Draft will proceed.

Ginebra addressed its aging roster with the deal, which brings to the Kings top Rookie of the Year candidate Stephen Holt and promising big man Isaac Go.

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