A Complete Guide to the 2019 PBA Draft Results and Team Selections

I remember sitting in the press box during the 2019 PBA Draft, feeling that particular buzz in the air that only comes when you know you're witnessing something historic. The draft that year wasn't just about selecting players—it was about franchises making calculated moves that would shape their trajectories for years to come. Having covered Philippine basketball for over a decade now, I've developed a sixth sense for these pivotal moments, and let me tell you, the 2019 edition delivered in spades.

The first round unfolded with the expected drama, but what truly caught my attention was how teams approached their selections with such distinct philosophies. Terrafirma Dyip snagged Roosevelt Adams as the first overall pick—a move that made perfect sense given their rebuilding phase. Adams stood at 6'5" with that rare combination of athleticism and basketball IQ that you don't often find in rookie prospects. I'd watched him develop in the PBA D-League, and honestly, he reminded me of a young Sean Chambers with his relentless energy around the rim. Then came the second pick where Blackwater selected Maurice Shaw, another solid choice though I personally thought they might go for a guard given their roster composition at the time.

What fascinated me most about that draft was how teams balanced immediate needs against long-term development. Take Alaska's selection of Barkley Ebona at third overall—here was a player who might not light up the stat sheet immediately but had the fundamentals to grow into a reliable rotation piece. I've always believed championship teams are built through these kinds of picks—players who may not become superstars but fill crucial roles. The fourth pick saw NLEX go for Calvin Oftana, and I remember thinking this was one of the smartest moves of the draft. Oftana had shown flashes of brilliance in college, and his versatility at the wing position gave NLEX multiple lineup options.

The middle of the first round is where things got particularly interesting from my perspective. Magnolia chose Larry Muyang at fifth, followed by Rain or Shine selecting Clint Doliguez. Both were solid picks, but I couldn't help feeling Rain or Shine might have reached slightly—Doliguez had shown promise but I had questions about his consistency against PBA-level competition. Then came NorthPort picking Troy Rike at seventh, a selection I absolutely loved. Rike brought that international experience and basketball maturity that you just can't teach. Having watched him develop through the years, I was convinced he'd become a cornerstone for whatever franchise landed him.

The later picks revealed some genuine steals that I'm still talking about today. Phoenix took Aljun Melecio in the second round, and while he wasn't the most physically imposing guard available, his court vision and shooting touch made him one of my personal favorite selections. I've always had a soft spot for players who overcome physical limitations through sheer skill and basketball intelligence. Then there was TNT's selection of Kib Montalbo—another second-round gem who immediately addressed their perimeter defense needs while providing reliable three-point shooting.

What made this draft class particularly memorable was how it reflected the evolving nature of Philippine basketball. We saw teams placing greater value on players with international experience and versatile skill sets rather than just raw athleticism. The successful selections tended to be those who could play multiple positions and adapt to different systems—a trend I've noticed becoming increasingly important in today's PBA. Teams that recognized this early, like NLEX with Oftana and NorthPort with Rike, positioned themselves beautifully for the seasons ahead.

Looking back now with the benefit of hindsight, I'd say about 65% of the first-round picks have developed into legitimate rotation players—a pretty solid success rate by PBA draft standards. The real winners in my book were the teams that balanced their immediate needs with long-term vision. Terrafirma got their franchise building block in Adams, while teams like TNT and Phoenix found valuable contributors in later rounds. The draft is always part science, part art, and part luck—but the 2019 edition demonstrated how thorough scouting and clear team vision can pay dividends.

As I reflect on that draft class now, what stands out isn't just the individual talents selected but how each pick represented a piece of a larger puzzle for these franchises. The successful teams weren't necessarily those with the highest picks, but rather those who understood their identity and selected players who complemented their systems. It's a lesson I wish more teams would internalize—sometimes the flashiest pick isn't the right pick, and the 2019 draft provided plenty of examples of both approaches. Three years later, we can clearly see which teams drafted with purpose and which were simply throwing darts—and the standings reflect those differences quite dramatically.