I still remember that humid afternoon in Cebu back in 2014, sitting in a crowded sports bar with the smell of fried chicken and beer hanging thick in the air. The television screen was showing the PBA draft coverage, and we were all packed shoulder to shoulder, nursing our San Miguel beers while debating which teams made the smartest picks. That particular memory surfaces every time I think about how much has changed since then - both for Philippine basketball and for me personally. Fast forward to today, and I find myself looking back at the 2014 PBA draft class with both nostalgia and curiosity, wondering where these promising athletes have ended up.
The 2014 draft was particularly special because it came at a time when Philippine basketball was undergoing significant changes. I recall how everyone was buzzing about Stanley Pringle going first overall to GlobalPort - and honestly, I had my doubts about whether he could adapt to the PBA's physical style. Boy, was I wrong about that one. Watching him develop into the player he is today taught me to never underestimate raw talent combined with determination. That draft class produced several players who would become cornerstones of their franchises, while others gradually faded into obscurity, their professional journeys taking unexpected turns that none of us in that Cebu sports bar could have predicted.
Speaking of Cebu, that city holds a special place in my basketball memories. Just last month, I found myself back there for business, catching a Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League game where Cebu continued its run with an 87-71 win over Bulacan in the opener. Sitting in that arena, surrounded by passionate fans, I couldn't help but draw parallels between these current players and those from the 2014 PBA draft class. Both groups started with dreams and potential, but their paths diverged dramatically based on opportunities, coaching, and frankly, plain old luck. That Cebu team played with the kind of hunger I haven't seen in some PBA veterans who were drafted back in 2014 - it made me wonder what happened to that initial fire some of them clearly possessed.
Take Kevin Alas, for instance - drafted third overall by Rain or Shine. I've followed his career closely because I've always had a soft spot for guards who play bigger than their size. His journey has been nothing short of rollercoaster - from tearing his ACL not once but twice to finally finding his groove with NLEX. When I watch him play now, I see a player who's been through the wringer but came out stronger, averaging around 14.2 points per game in the last conference before the pandemic hit. Compare that to some of his draft classmates who've bounced between five different teams in six years, and you realize how fragile a professional basketball career can be.
Then there's the curious case of Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, who went second overall to Talk 'N Text. I'll admit I was skeptical about his offensive game back then, thinking he might just be another defensive specialist. But watching him develop into a reliable two-way player has been one of the more satisfying developments from that draft class. His journey took him through different teams, including a stint with San Miguel where he won championships, proving that sometimes the best players aren't necessarily the flashiest scorers but those who understand their role and excel at it.
What fascinates me most about tracking these players is seeing how their careers mirror the unpredictable nature of life itself. Some, like Pringle, have become bonafide stars earning around ₱420,000 per month - a far cry from their rookie contracts. Others have drifted to smaller leagues or found themselves playing overseas, their PBA dreams either fulfilled temporarily or permanently deferred. I sometimes wonder if they ever look back at their draft day, remembering the hope and anticipation they felt, and reflect on how different reality turned out to be.
The business side of basketball has certainly claimed its share of casualties from that class. I remember chatting with a team executive who told me that approximately 60% of first-round picks from between 2010-2015 are no longer in the PBA. That statistic hits differently when you realize these are real people with real dreams, not just names on a draft board. It's why I've developed more appreciation for players like Philip Paniamogan, who was picked 18th overall and has managed to carve out a respectable career despite not being a household name.
As I left that MPBL game in Cebu, the scoreboard showing that decisive 87-71 victory, I thought about how basketball careers, much like games, can swing dramatically based on moments both within and beyond one's control. The 2014 draft class represents a fascinating cross-section of Philippine basketball - the stars who shone brightly, the role players who found their niche, and the could-have-beens whose potential never fully materialized. They're scattered across different teams, different leagues, and different life circumstances now, but they'll always be connected by that shared experience of hearing their names called on draft day 2014, when everything seemed possible and the future stretched out before them like an open court.