FORTY-FIVE is the final count for the aspirants who realized their dreams and walked up the stage in the 2019 PBA Rookie Draft, quite a positive turnout for what is easily the most unpredictable draft ever.
And as the dust settled, SPIN.ph lists the clear winners and losers after the annual draft proceedings last Sunday.
WINNER: Gilas Pilipinas program
Taking in the top five prospects from this year's rookie pool should be a start as Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) reboots the national team.
Having a core of Isaac Go, Rey Suerte, Allyn Bulanadi, and twins Matt and Mike Nieto is certainly not a bad foundation as Tab Baldwin plots to restart the Gilas Pilipinas program from the ground up.
The full blueprint has yet to be unveiled, but with these quintet in tow, expect great things from Gilas looking into the future.

WINNER: Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
Just look at that haul and tell us why Ginebra was not the clear-cut winner from the draft.
Arvin Tolentino in the first round, Jerrick Balanza in the second, and Kent Salado in the third. Those names could've easily been picked in the first round at any given draft.
But somehow, someway, the Gin Kings ended up with all of them. Talk about the rich getting richer.
WINNER: CJ Perez
Notice how it's not Columbian, but rather it's just CJ Perez?
Last year's top pick finally gets an able dance partner with the arrival of Roosevelt Adams, with the Fil-Am winger giving the Dyip another scoring option this season.
Finally, Perez won't have to carry much of the load for Columbian.

WINNER: NLEX Road Warriors
Once again, Yeng Guiao nails the draft.
Mike Ayonayon could be the second coming of Jericho Cruz. Jayvee Marcelino is a relentless pest on defense. AC Soberano is one of the top knockdown shooters in college. And Will McAloney and Gelo Vito fit in the mold of past bigs who turned into gems under the Road Warriors mentor.
And we haven't even mentioned Matt Nieto, who'll be on loan to Gilas for the next few years but is certainly ready to shadow Kiefer Ravena once he plays in the PBA.
Certainly, NLEX is a winner.

WINNER: Black household
Most father and sons in the PBA end up in separate teams. But not the Blacks, after Meralco took in Aaron Black with its first pick in the second round.
It's a dream come true for both coach Norman and young Aaron, and we can only hope that their partnership in the pros lead to great results, too. It must be fun in the Black household these days.
JURY still out on Blackwater Elite
It couldn't be emphasized how drafts are usually gambles, and Blackwater definitely bet big on 34-year-old Maurice Shaw.
Even new coach Nash Racela said that the Elite are rolling the dice, noting that it's not everyday that a 6-foot-8 former Harlem Globetrotter is available.
With Shaw being one of the biggest mysteries in this year's pool, we think it's better to give him and Blackwater more time to prove themselves.
LOSER: Rain or Shine practices
Counting the special Gilas draft, Rain or Shine had four of the top 12 picks in this year's proceedings. And they took them all in.
Seven players led by Mike Nieto (on loan), Adrian Wong, Clint Doliguez, and Prince Rivero were called up the stage by the Elasto Painters as they ended up in a tie with NLEX for the most number of draftees this year.
Most of those, like Wong, Doliguez, Rivero, and Vince Tolentino, possess skills which is like a duplication of some of the players Rain or Shine already has on its roster. Good problem as it may, it will surely be a dogfight for those roster spots in the Elasto Painters.

LOSER: Phoenix Fuel Masters
Phoenix got a boost up front with the acquisition of Jake Pascual, but the draft certainly didn't help them. That's what you get when you're only picking in the third round.
Other than getting significant additions, the Fuel Masters were limited to getting in familiar faces to coach Topex Robinson as all three of their draft picks all came from Lyceum.
LOSER: TNT KaTropa
Size has been a problem for TNT and it didn't really help itself during the draft.
Kib Montalbo is surely a sneaky good first-round pick for the KaTropa, with the former La Salle standout possibly filling in the shoes for Ryan Reyes in the future.
The others, well let's just say there's still a lot of proving that needs to be done.
But what do we know? Maybe coach Bong Ravena and team consultant Mark Dickel have something up their sleeves.

LOSER: Christian Balagasay
Congratulations to Christian Balagasay for being picked by Columbian at 12th in the first round. But just imagine the pressure the Letran big man will have to deal with after being picked before Knights stars Jerrick Balanza, who was taken by Ginebra a pick after in the second round already, and Bonbon Batiller, who had to wait until the third round before Columbian took him in.
We understand the mad dash teams had for big men, but can Balagasay prove himself as one of those who rank at the top of the class? Let's just keep our fingers crossed.
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