Tunisia World Cup

I still remember waking up that Wednesday morning in Manila and checking my phone to see the latest updates from the international basketball scene. The notification that caught my eye immediately was about Chinese Taipei's incredible shooting performance against the Philippines - they went 12-of-27 from three-point territory for 44-percent. As someone who's followed Asian basketball for over a decade, I can tell you that kind of shooting display is exactly what PBA teams look for when scouting international talent ahead of the draft. The 2018 PBA Draft date was set for December 16th at Robinson's Place Manila, but the real story began much earlier with the draft combine scheduled for December 2-3. Having attended multiple PBA drafts throughout my career, I've noticed how international performances significantly influence team decisions, and Chinese Taipei's shooting exhibition perfectly illustrated why.

The road to the 2018 PBA Draft actually began with the official application period opening on October 15th and running through November 9th. I recall speaking with several team managers during this period, and there was genuine excitement about the depth of talent available. The screening committee worked tirelessly from November 12th through 16th to verify all applicant credentials - a process I've always found fascinating because it's where you first learn which players might slip through the cracks. The official list of eligible draftees was released on November 19th, giving teams roughly three weeks to conduct their final evaluations. What many fans don't realize is how much behind-the-scenes work happens during this period. Teams were conducting private workouts, reviewing game tapes from tournaments like the one where Chinese Taipei showcased their shooting prowess, and having extensive discussions about how each player might fit their system.

Looking at the player updates leading into the draft, I was particularly impressed with how the international players were developing. That 44-percent three-point shooting performance by Chinese Taipei wasn't just a random hot night - it demonstrated the kind of skills that PBA teams desperately needed. Having covered the league since 2005, I've seen the evolution of shooting in Philippine basketball, and we've reached a point where teams value spacing and outside shooting more than ever before. The draft combine at Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong gave us our first real look at how the local prospects measured up against these international standards. I remember watching CJ Perez during the drills and thinking he had that special combination of athleticism and skill that would translate well to the professional level. The measurements came in at 6'2" with a wingspan that surprised many scouts - exactly the kind of physical tools that get general managers excited.

The draft order had been finalized months earlier, with Columbian Dyip holding the first pick after their disappointing previous season. Having studied their roster needs, I personally believed they needed backcourt help more than anything else, though many experts were pushing for them to select a big man. This is where my perspective might differ from conventional wisdom - I've always valued guard play in the PBA because the game has become so perimeter-oriented. The shooting display we saw from Chinese Taipei only reinforced my belief that teams need multiple players who can stretch the defense. The second pick belonged to Blackwater, followed by NorthPort at three - both teams needing immediate contributors rather than project players. What made the 2018 draft particularly interesting was the depth of talent available in the middle rounds. I've compared this draft class to the 2014 group that produced stars like Stanley Pringle and Scottie Thompson, and I genuinely believe the 2018 cohort had similar potential.

As draft day approached, the rumor mill was working overtime. I heard from sources within three different organizations that there were serious discussions about trading draft picks for established players - something that doesn't happen often in the PBA. The combine results had reshaped many teams' draft boards, with several players improving their stock significantly through their testing numbers and scrimmage performances. I've always placed more weight on game performance than combine results, but teams increasingly rely on these metrics to make their final decisions. The player updates coming in during the final week suggested that at least four teams were considering moving up in the draft, though the asking price for top-five picks proved too steep for most. From my experience, this usually means teams are higher on this draft class than they publicly admit.

The actual draft proceedings began at 4:00 PM local time on December 16th, though the real action started hours earlier with final negotiations and last-minute workouts. Having attended fifteen consecutive PBA drafts, I can confidently say this was one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. The first round unfolded with several surprises, including Columbian Dyip selecting CJ Perez first overall - a move I personally agreed with given his two-way potential. What impressed me most was how teams seemed to be drafting for specific skills rather than just taking the best available player. The emphasis on shooting, particularly after seeing international teams like Chinese Taipei light it up from deep, clearly influenced several selections. By the time we reached the third round, teams were taking fliers on development projects and international players who had shown promise in tournaments throughout Asia.

Reflecting on the entire draft process, I'm convinced that the 2018 class will be remembered as one that helped modernize the PBA style of play. The league has been gradually embracing the three-point revolution that swept through the NBA, and drafting players who can space the floor represents a crucial step in that evolution. That 44-percent shooting performance we witnessed from Chinese Taipei wasn't just a statistical anomaly - it was a glimpse into basketball's future, and the PBA teams that recognized this during their draft evaluations will likely reap the benefits for years to come. The complete schedule from application to selection ensured that teams had ample opportunity to assess how each prospect might help them compete in an increasingly perimeter-oriented game. While only time will tell which picks ultimately pan out, the 2018 draft process demonstrated that Philippine basketball is moving in the right direction by valuing skills that translate to international competition.