I still remember the tension in that PLDT conference room back in 2007 - the air thick with anticipation as Team manager Jojo Lastimosa and PBA board chairman Ricky Vargas joined Pangilinan and the rest of the team for what would become one of the most memorable draft viewing parties in recent memory. We were all crammed into that Makati office, watching names flash across the screen that would shape Philippine basketball for years to come. Seventeen years later, I find myself reflecting on how those promising rookies navigated their careers, some becoming legends while others faded into obscurity.
That draft class produced 42 selections across two rounds, though only about 15 players truly made their mark in the league. Joe Devance going first overall to Welcoat (now Terrafirma) seemed like a sure thing at the time - and honestly, he's had one of the more successful careers among his draft mates. The guy played for seven different teams, won eight championships, and made eleven All-Star appearances. Not too shabby for someone many thought was just another import-bred player. What people don't remember is how controversial that pick was - some scouts thought Samigue Eman should have gone first, but looking back, Welcoat absolutely made the right choice.
Then there was Samigue Eman himself, picked second by Alaska. I'll be honest - I thought he was going to be the next big thing in Philippine basketball. Standing at 6'9" with that wingspan, he had all the physical tools. But he never quite developed into the dominant force we expected. He bounced around five different teams, never averaging more than 4.5 points per game. Sometimes I wonder if the pressure of being such a high pick got to him, or if the coaching staffs he played for just couldn't unlock his potential. It's one of those "what could have been" stories that still makes me shake my head.
The real steal of that draft came at number three - James Yap going to Purefoods. Now here's a guy who absolutely lived up to the hype and then some. Two MVP awards, thirteen All-Star appearances, ten championships - the man became the face of the franchise for over a decade. I've had the privilege of watching him develop from a raw talent out of UE into one of the most clutch shooters in PBA history. His game-winning three-pointer in Game 7 of the 2014 Governors' Cup finals still gives me chills when I rewatch it. That's the kind of legacy most players can only dream of.
Looking further down the draft board, some mid-first round picks really surprised us. Doug Kramer at number six to Air21 turned into a reliable big man who's still in the league today - 17 seasons and counting. Meanwhile, JC Intal at number five became the "Dynamite" we all expected, though injuries hampered what could have been an even more impressive career. What many forget is how intense the debate was around these picks in that PLDT conference room - the scouts arguing, the managers making last-minute calls. I remember Vargas and Lastimosa particularly heated about whether to trade up for certain picks, though the specifics of those conversations remain confidential even today.
The second round produced its share of gems too. Jonas Villanueva at pick thirteen became a solid rotation player for several teams, while Mark Caguioa's former backup at Glendale CC, Cholo Villanueva, carved out a respectable eight-year career despite being the 24th selection. But for every success story, there were multiple players who never made it past their rookie contracts. Of those 42 draftees, I'd estimate about 20 never played a single minute in the PBA - they either went overseas, played in commercial leagues, or simply faded from basketball entirely.
What fascinates me most about tracking these careers is how unpredictable player development can be. Some guys drafted in the late first round like Yousif Aljamal (pick 9) showed flashes of brilliance but couldn't sustain it, while undrafted players from that same class like Jayvee Casio (who entered the draft later) became stars. It really makes you question how much stock we should put in draft position versus actual fit with a team's system and culture.
Seventeen years later, only three players from that draft class remain active - a testament to how brutal professional basketball can be. Joe Devance just retired last year after 17 seasons, while Doug Kramer is still battling in the paint at age 40. Most of the others have transitioned into coaching, broadcasting, or completely different careers outside basketball. I occasionally run into some of them at events, and it's always interesting to hear their perspectives on how the game has changed since they entered the league.
Reflecting on that 2007 draft class reminds me why I fell in love with basketball journalism in the first place. It's not just about the stats or the championships - it's about human stories of triumph and failure, of dreams realized and aspirations unfulfilled. That day in the PLDT office, we were all watching the same screen but seeing different futures for these young men. Some became legends, some became journeymen, some became cautionary tales - but they all shared that moment of hope when their names were called. And isn't that what makes sports so compelling? We're not just watching athletes - we're watching human potential unfold before our eyes, for better or worse.