I still remember the excitement buzzing through the Mall of Asia Arena back in December 2018 - that particular energy only the PBA Rookie Draft generates. We weren't just watching names get called; we were witnessing franchises bet on futures, including my own team's. The atmosphere was electric with that unspoken question hanging in the air: who would prove to be the "best of the best," as the saying goes, rather than merely the "best of the rest"? This distinction has haunted many a draft class, and looking back at the 2018 cohort six years on, it's fascinating to see which players truly embodied that ethos of working for the team, learning relentlessly, and justifying their selection.
The top of that draft was, frankly, a no-brainer. CJ Perez going first overall to Columbian Dyip was the worst-kept secret in Philippine basketball. I recall thinking it was the safest pick possible, but also the right one. The guy averaged a staggering 24.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in the PBA D-League before declaring. His raw, explosive talent was undeniable. He wasn't just a scorer; he was a whirlwind on both ends of the court. While his early years were marked by incredible individual stats on a struggling team, his recent move to San Miguel Beermen has been the real test. And you know what? He's passed with flying colors. He's adapted his game, learned from the veterans, and is now a crucial piece for a championship-contending squad. That’s the growth you want to see – a player who evolves from a high-volume scorer into a winning player. That’s the "wanting to learn" part in action.
Then you have Bobby Ray Parks Jr., selected second by Blackwater. His journey has been, well, the most intriguing of the bunch. A phenomenal talent, no doubt. I've always been a fan of his two-way versatility. But his path hasn't been linear. His decision to play in Japan for a stint raised eyebrows, but in a way, it highlighted a modern player's prerogative. When he returned and eventually landed at TNT, we saw a more polished player. He’s had moments of sheer brilliance, like in the 2021 Philippine Cup finals where he put up around 19 points a game. But consistency and health have been the questions. For me, Parks represents a different kind of "working for the country" – it's about honing your craft wherever you can to ultimately bring it back home and elevate the local league. It’s a non-traditional path, but a valid one in today's global basketball landscape.
The draft's real gems, however, were often found a bit later. Javee Mocon going sixth to Rain or Shine was a steal, and I’ll stand by that. He wasn't the flashiest name from the San Beda pipeline, but my goodness, was he a perfect system player. He played with a motor that never quit, defended multiple positions, and did all the dirty work. He was the epitome of someone who wanted to work for the team, not just for his own stats. His partnership with Beau Belga was a joy to watch for any basketball purist. His recent move to NLEX is a new chapter, but his impact in those formative years with the Elasto Painters was immense. On the other hand, you have a player like Abu Tratter, picked ninth by Magnolia. He's shown flashes of being a solid big man, but his career has been a bit more of a rollercoaster, moving between several teams. It makes you wonder about the fit and the system – sometimes talent isn't enough; it's about landing in the right situation that demands you to be the "best of the best."
Of course, we can't talk about this draft without the heartbreak of the third pick, Robert Bolick. NorthPort absolutely nailed that pick. The man was a cold-blooded scorer and a leader from day one. I remember one game where he just took over in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 unanswered points. He had that "it" factor. His departure for Japan was a massive loss for the PBA, a real punch to the gut for fans. It underscores a recurring challenge for the league: retaining its top-tier, homegrown stars in an increasingly competitive Asian market. In his two full seasons before leaving, he put up numbers close to 20 points and 6 assists per game – superstar material. His case forces us to re-evaluate what "working for the country" means. Is it staying put no matter what, or is it pursuing the best opportunity for oneself and one's family, even if it means leaving?
Reflecting on the 2018 draft class half a decade later, it's a mixed bag, as most drafts are. You have your undeniable hits like Perez, your complex narratives like Parks, your system-defining steals like Mocon, and your "what could have been" stories like Bolick. The process of integrating "the best talents from high school, from college" is never a perfect science. It requires not just talent identification, but also player development, a supportive team culture, and sometimes, a bit of luck. For every player who seamlessly transitioned, there were others who struggled to find their footing. The true success stories from this group are those who demonstrated that willingness to learn, to adapt, and to buy into something larger than their individual accolades. They understood that being the "best of the best" in the PBA isn't just about the highlight reel; it's about consistency, resilience, and ultimately, about winning and contributing to the fabric of the league. This draft class, with all its triumphs and tribulations, gave us plenty of both.