Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots players, led by veteran point guard Mark Barroca, offered words of wisdom to hopefuls ahead of the 2025 PBA Rookie Draft this afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay City.
The team’s official Facebook page featured videos of Barroca, Ian Sangalang, Aris Dionisio, and Jerom Lastimosa sharing advice for the incoming rookies.
Barroca, drafted 5th overall in 2011 by Shopinas.com Clickers before being traded to the Hotshots (then B-Meg Llamados), reminded prospects that the journey doesn’t end on draft day.
“First of all, work hard talaga kasi hindi naman natatapos sa draft lang eh. Kung hindi kayo makuha, huwag kayong tumigil. Every year andiyan kayo, every conference puwede kayo mag tryout. Huwag kayong mawalan ng pag-asa at alagaan ninyo ang katawan ninyo kasi health lang ang puhunan ng isang player,” Barroca said.
🔗
Sangalang, Magnolia’s 2nd overall pick in 2013, stressed the importance of discipline and attitude.
“Simple lang ang advice ko. Number 1, siyempre, alagaan ang sarili at disiplina sa sarili. Number 2, pakikisama sa lahat—coaches, teammates—at ‘yung attitude mo. ‘Yan ang magdadala kung magtatagal ka sa PBA,” he said.
🔗
Dionisio, selected 9th overall in 2019, highlighted faith, courage, and self-belief.
“Advice siguro No. 1 is pray. Kumbaga saan ka man magpunta, ‘yung lakas ng loob at tiwala sa sarili. ‘Yun lang siguro ang way para ma-push mo ang sarili mo,” he shared.
🔗
Lastimosa, Magnolia’s 9th overall pick in 2024, kept his advice short and heartfelt:
“Have faith always kay God at huwag mawawalan ng pag-asa.”
🔗
The 2025 PBA Draft tips off at 5 p.m., with Terrafirma Dyip holding the rights to the No. 1 overall pick.
According to the PBA website, Sunday marks a day of reckoning for 122 aspirants, one of the largest pools since the league adopted the draft system in 1985.
Among the prominent names are Gilas Pilipinas pool members Juan Gomez de Liaño and Geo Chiu, Fil-foreign standouts Jason Brickman and Dalph Panopio, and collegiate stars LJay Gonzales, CJ Austria, Yukien Andrada, and Jose Antonio Quiteves, among others.
Also making noise during the two-day Draft Combine at the Ynares Sports Arena were MVP Sonny Estil, Mythical selections June Roque, Edrian Ramirez, and Mario Barasi, along with Three-Point King Chris Miller.
Terrafirma Dyip owns the distinction of selecting No. 1 overall in this year’s draft, followed by Converge, Blackwater, NorthPort, NLEX, Magnolia, Meralco, Phoenix, San Miguel, Rain or Shine, Barangay Ginebra, and Rain or Shine again to close the first round.
Initially, 128 hopefuls applied, but six were later ruled ineligible.
Last year, Converge selected Justin Baltazar as the consensus No. 1 pick in the Season 49 draft.
