Looking Back at the 2007 PBA Draft: Where Are the Top Picks Now?

I still remember the excitement surrounding the 2007 PBA Draft like it was yesterday. The atmosphere at the Market! Market! activity center in Taguig felt electric, with fans and team representatives all buzzing about which prospects would transform their franchises. As someone who's followed Philippine basketball for over two decades, I've always found draft classes fascinating—they're like time capsules that capture the hopes and dreams of an entire basketball generation. What strikes me most about the 2007 class isn't just where these players started, but the incredible journeys they've taken since that pivotal day.

Looking back at the top five picks reveals some fascinating career trajectories. Joe Devance, that versatile big man from UV, went first overall to Welcoat (now known as Terrafirma), and honestly, I thought he'd struggle to find his footing in the league. But boy was I wrong—he's carved out one of the most respectable careers among that draft class, winning multiple championships with different teams and becoming known for his high basketball IQ. Second pick James Yap was already a household name coming in from UE, and his move to Purefoods felt like destiny. He didn't just meet expectations—he exceeded them, becoming a two-time MVP and arguably the most popular PBA player of his generation. What many forget is how much criticism the Purefoods management faced for that pick initially, with many fans thinking they should've gone for a big man instead.

The third selection, Samigue Eman from Mindanao, never quite lived up to his potential despite his tremendous physical gifts. At 6'9" with decent mobility, I genuinely believed he'd become a dominant force in the paint, but he bounced around several teams before eventually fading from the league. Meanwhile, fourth pick Jay Washington from Eckerd College developed into exactly the kind of stretch big that modern basketball values, though his career was hampered by persistent injuries that limited his impact during what should have been his prime years. Fifth selection Doug Kramer from Ateneo became the ultimate role player—the kind of reliable big man every contender needs, even if he never put up flashy numbers.

What's particularly interesting about tracking these careers is seeing how their paths continue to evolve even after their playing days. Just the other day, I was reading about how Tropang 5G team manager Jojo Lastimosa had to address their resident import's social media post about NBA training camps. It reminded me how the basketball world has become truly global—these PBA veterans now have opportunities and connections that simply didn't exist back in 2007. The landscape has shifted dramatically, with social media creating direct pathways between Philippine basketball and the international scene that previous generations could only dream of.

Several players from that draft class have transitioned into coaching or front office roles, which doesn't surprise me at all. You could always tell which players had that deeper understanding of the game—the ones who'd make great coaches someday. Others have moved into broadcasting or business ventures, leveraging their name recognition from their playing days. What's remarkable is how many of them remain connected to basketball in some capacity. The sport gets in your blood, and even when the uniform comes off for the last time, the passion for the game continues in other forms.

If I'm being completely honest, the 2007 draft class might not have produced the sheer number of superstars that some other years did, but its impact on the league's development was profound. These players bridged the gap between the physical, post-oriented basketball of the early 2000s and the faster, more perimeter-based game we see today. They adapted to rule changes, new coaching philosophies, and the increasing internationalization of the league. Watching their careers unfold taught me that success in professional basketball isn't just about raw talent—it's about adaptability, resilience, and sometimes just being in the right system at the right time.

Reflecting on these careers fifteen years later, I'm struck by how unpredictable player development can be. Some players I was certain would become stars never quite figured it out, while others I initially underestimated developed into cornerstone pieces for their franchises. The 2007 draft serves as a powerful reminder that a player's journey is never linear—there are unexpected twists, career-altering injuries, surprise opportunities, and moments of reinvention that nobody could have predicted on draft night. These stories continue to unfold in fascinating ways, connecting back to the current basketball landscape in the Philippines, much like Lastimosa's recent experience with his import demonstrates how interconnected our basketball world has become. The legacy of that 2007 class isn't frozen in time—it's still being written, still influencing the game today in ways both obvious and subtle.