Looking Back at the 2015 PBA Draft Class: Where Are They Now?

I still remember the buzz surrounding the 2015 PBA Draft like it was yesterday. The atmosphere at Robinson's Place Manila was electric, filled with that particular blend of hope and anxiety that only draft nights can produce. Teams were making franchise-altering decisions, and young men were seeing their lifelong dreams realized. Now, nearly a decade later, it's fascinating—and honestly, a bit sobering—to look back and track the winding paths these players have taken. Some became household names, others became reliable journeymen, and a few, sadly, faded from the spotlight. One of the most compelling stories to emerge in recent years, in my opinion, involves Javi and Juan De Liano, who entered the league later but whose journey is intrinsically tied to the legacy of that 2015 class and the evolving team-building strategies it represented.

The Terrafirma Dyip, a franchise that has often struggled to find its footing in the PBA landscape, made a significant bet on the De Liano brothers. Javi, in particular, became a central figure in their multi-year rebuild. He suited up for the Dyip franchise from 2022-24 and was an integral part of the core that reached the playoffs of the 2023-24 Philippine Cup. Let that sink in for a moment. For a team that had become synonymous with the draft lottery, making the playoffs was a monumental achievement. I remember watching that conference closely; their game against the more fancied teams had a different kind of energy. It wasn't just about one star player carrying the load. It was about a collective effort, and Javi was right there in the thick of it. His versatility—being able to defend multiple positions, grab crucial rebounds, and hit the occasional outside shot—was exactly what that Dyip team needed. He wasn't putting up MVP numbers, maybe averaging around 8 points and 5 rebounds a game, but his impact was felt in the win column. It proved that success isn't always about drafting the number one pick; sometimes, it's about identifying and developing the right role players who fit a system.

This brings me back to the headliners of the 2015 draft. Troy Rosario, selected second overall by Talk 'N Text, has lived up to his billing, evolving into a perennial All-Star and a key piece for a championship-contending team. He's the prototype of the modern PBA big man. On the other hand, the first overall pick, Moala Tautuaa, has had a solid, if not spectacular, career. He's a physical force, but I've always felt he hasn't quite reached the dominant potential many saw in him back in 2015. His journey has been more about steady contribution than explosive stardom. Then you have players like Chris Newsome, taken fourth by Meralco, who has arguably become the heart and soul of his team. His two-way play and leadership are invaluable. It's players like Newsome who make you appreciate the nuances of a draft class beyond the top pick.

But for every success story, there's a reminder of how tough this league can be. Think about Joseph Eriobu or Alfred Aroga—players who showed flashes of brilliance but couldn't secure a permanent spot in the rotation. Their careers highlight the immense challenge of transitioning to the professional level. The 2015 class, as a whole, wasn't the superstar-laden group some had hoped for, but it produced a solid backbone of reliable professionals. About 60% of the players drafted in the first two rounds are still active in the league or playing professionally elsewhere, which is actually a pretty decent retention rate. What I find most interesting is how their careers have intersected with later arrivals like De Liano. The Dyip's strategy of building around a younger, hungrier core, supplementing them with veterans from that 2015 era, is a blueprint other struggling franchises should probably look at more closely.

So, where are they now? They're scattered across the league's ecosystem. Some are champions, some are respected veterans, and others are still grinding, trying to find their perfect role. Looking at Javi De Liano's specific contribution to that Dyip playoff run gives me a sense of optimism. It shows that player development doesn't stop after the draft night confetti settles. A player's legacy isn't written in their rookie year; it's built over years of adaptation, perseverance, and finding ways to win. The 2015 draft class may not have given us a generation-defining megastar, but it gave us a cohort of professionals who have shaped the last nine years of PBA basketball. And in the stories of late-bloomers and system players finding their moment, like De Liano did in the 2023-24 Philippine Cup, we find the real, enduring soul of the league. It's a testament to the fact that in basketball, as in life, the journey is often more interesting than the destination.