TERRAFIRMA is in line to once again obtain the No. 1 pick in the PBA draft for next season.
In unofficial computations done by SPIN.ph, the Dyip or whoever owns the franchise at the end of the season have the upper hand in the race for the top overall pick for Season 50 after last-place finishes in both the Governors’ Cup and the Commissioner’s Cup.
The draft order is determined based on the team standings of the three conferences, with 40 percent allotted to the Philippine Cup standings and 30 percent each to the Commissioner’s Cup and Governors’ Cup rankings.
Terrafirma’s draft right, however, will be turned over to Starhorse if the shipping company will go on to purchase the Dyip franchise – lock, stock, and barrel – and take part starting in the 50th season scheduled in October.
READ: Sale of Terrafirma's PBA team to Starhorse suddenly in doubt?
The draft order can still change pending the final standings of the Philippine Cup, which for Season 49 will serve as the third and final conference.
Next in line is Phoenix, which is on pace to gain the No. 2 pick after finishing 11th in the Governors’ Cup and 12th in the Commissioner’s Cup.
Usually at a much-higher pick in previous drafts, Blackwater is so far at No. 3, if the season ends today. The Bossing placed ninth in the Governors’ Cup, the reason why they are a bit lower in the draft order so far, even after finishing 11th in the Commissioner’s Cup.
At the moment, NLEX is at the No. 4 position after its eighth place finish in the Governors’ Cup and ninth in the Commissioner’s Cup, followed by Magnolia, which rounds out the Top 5 after its seventh ranking in the Governors’ Cup and eighth in the Commissioner’s Cup.
Picking late for the most part, San Miguel is in line for the sixth pick after it missed the playoffs in the Commissioner’s Cup at 10th spot, even with its fourth place in the Governors’ Cup.
NorthPort is in the unusual spot, so far, in the middle of the first round at No. 7. Despite its 10th place in the Governors’ Cup. The Batang Pier went up the ladder after ending up third in the Commissioner’s Cup even after their ouster by Barangay Ginebra at the semifinal stage when they were top seed in the playoffs.
Converge: from No. 1 to 8
Later in the first round, Converge is on track to pick at No. 8, after being at No. 1 during the 49th Season Draft and selecting Justine Baltazar in the process. The FiberXers placed sixth in the Governors’ Cup and the Commissioner’s Cup, with Baltazar now on the fold.
Meralco is on pace to pick at No. 9 with its fifth-place finish in both the Governors’ Cup and the Commissioner’s Cup, while Rain or Shine could be at No. 10 after a solid showing of third in the Governors’ Cup and fourth in the Commissioner’s Cup.
Governors’ Cup champion TNT and Barangay Ginebra are in line for the last two picks. However, the Tropang Giga’s first-round pick will go to Rain or Shine as part of the trade days after the 48th season draft in 2023 when they shipped the draft right and Dave Marcelo to the Elasto Painters for Henry Galinato and Jewel Ponferada.
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