PBA season 48 draft


The PBA season 48 draft was the 38th edition of the PBA draft. It was held at Market! Market! in Taguig on September 17, 2023. It was an event that allowed teams to take turns selecting amateur basketball players and other eligible players, including half-Filipino foreign players. The league determined the drafting order based on the performance of the member teams from the 2022–23 season, with the worst team, the Terrafirma Dyip, picking first. For the first time since 2010, the draft was held at Market! Market!.

Draft order

The draft order was determined based on the overall performance of the teams from the previous season. The Philippine Cup final ranking comprises 40% of the points, while the rankings of the Commissioner's and Governors' Cups are 30% each.

Draft selections

3rd round

  • TNT passed during the round.

6th round

7th round

  • Meralco and Magnolia passed during the round.

8th round

  • Phoenix Super LPG passed during the round.

9th round

  • Terrafirma passed during the round.

10th round

11th round

  • Converge passed during the round.

12th round

A twelfth round was held, but NorthPort passed, thus ending the draft.

Trades involving draft picks

Pre-draft trades

Prior to the draft, the following trades were made and resulted in exchanges of draft picks between teams. Converge retained the right to Alaska's second-round picks.

Combine

The PBA draft combine for this edition of the draft was held from September 12 to 13 at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong, with a record-breaking 128 applicants expected to attend. Archie Concepcion was named the draft combine MVP as his team won the mini-tournament, and he, Adrian Nocum, Ralph Cu, Jayson Apolonio, and Warren Bonifacio were named to the Mythical Five.

Eligibility and entrants

Applications for the draft began on July 22 and ended on September 11. The final tally was brought down to 124 as several players either failed to attend both days of the draft combine or withdrew their application.
The eligibility rules for the PBA draft were revised and adopted starting from Season 48. Among the changes were:
  • Removal of the 30-year age limit for Filipino-Foreigners
  • Standardized rules applicable for both local and Filipino-Foreigners
  • *Players 22 years old and older are generally eligible
  • *Players at least 19 years old are eligible if they have two years of college completed.
  • Players must have studied and played in Philippine collegiate leagues prior to playing in professional overseas leagues.
  • *Players must enter the draft on their third year of eligibility
  • *Those who did on their fourth or fifth year of eligibility after playing in a professional league overseas, would have to undergo a special computer-generated lottery among the 12 teams.
  • *The application of those who did in their sixth year of eligibility or beyond is subject to conditions and approval by the Board.

Notable entrants

Domestic league players

In this section, only entrants who have played for a UAAP, NCAA, CESAFI, UCAL, NCRAA, NAASCU or U.S. NCAA school are included. Additionally, all listed entrants have played in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League prior to the draft unless specified.

International league players

PBA on Tour / PBA D-League / PBA 3x3 players

UAAP and NCAA players

  • BJ Andrade – G, Ateneo
  • Warren Bonifacio – F, Mapúa
  • Damie Cuntapay – C/F, San Beda
  • Cade Flores – F, Arellano
  • Henry Galinato – F, UP
  • Clifford Jopia – C, San Beda
  • Ian Herrera – C, UST
  • Zavier Lucero – F, UP
  • Patrick Maagdenberg – C/F, Ateneo
  • Tommy Olivario – G, Letran
  • Brent Paraiso – G, Letran
  • Nikko Paranada – G, UE
  • Bryan Santos – F, UST
  • Enoch Valdez – G, Letran
  • Alfonso Ventura – G, Benilde
  • Kenneth Villapando – F, San Sebastian
  • Schonny Winston – G, De La Salle
  • Rhinwil Yambing – F, San Sebastian

U.S. NCAA and U.S. high school players