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2009 PBA draft
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| 2009 PBA draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Date | August 2, 2009 |
| Time | 4:00 pm (PHT) |
| Location | Market! Market! Fort Bonifacio, Taguig |
| Network | Solar TV |
| Overview | |
| League | Philippine Basketball Association |
| First selection | Japeth Aguilar, Burger King Whoppers |
The 2009 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) rookie draft was an event at which teams drafted players from the amateur ranks. The event was held at Market! Market! in Taguig on August 2, 2009. The Burger King Whoppers selected Japeth Aguilar of the Ateneo de Manila University and Western Kentucky University as the number one draft pick. Players applied for the draft had undergone a three-day rookie camp. This is the only draft wherein a draft pick held by a defunct franchise was not retained by a new team which purchased that franchise (the second overall pick originally held by Shell was not inherited by Rain or Shine).
Japeth Aguilar controversy
[edit]As expected, the Burger King Whoppers nabbed Japeth Aguilar as its overall No.1 draft pick in the 2009 PBA draft; however days after the draft, he boldly declare that he would join the Smart Gilas Pilipinas developmental basketball program coached by Serbian Rajko Toroman, a move which caused controversy within the PBA and angst especially by the team that drafted him. Its governor, Lito Alvarez, even went to the extent of banning Aguilar from the league for his refusal to sign with the Whoppers.[1]
An amicable settlement was reached on October 9, 2009, two days before the 35th PBA season. With SBP prexy Manny Pangilinan and executive director Noli Eala intervening and at Alvarez's behest, Aguilar signed the one-year contract with the Whoppers, which included him playing for a few games with them then he would be traded to Talk N Text Tropang Texters (Pangilinan's PBA team) which would then release him to Smart Gilas as he wanted.[2] Alvarez even said that before Aguilar signed their contract, the former already has had the latter's No.18 uniform with the Whoppers made.
Aguilar played his only professional game with the Whoppers against the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants in the PBA season opener, which ended in a 93–80 loss to the Giants.[3] Immediately after, Aguilar got his wish as the Whoppers traded him to the Tropang Texters in exchange for future draft picks, indirectly through Barako Bull Energy Boosters which acted as the conduit team.[4] As expected, TNT loaned him to Smart Gilas where he will stay there until after the 2012 London Olympics as per his Gilas contract.
As the consequence of this controversy, the board of governors approved stiffer penalties for rookie draftees who would turn their back on the league.[5]
Round 1
[edit]| PG | Point guard | SG | Shooting guard | SF | Small forward | PF | Power forward | C | Center | * | Mythical team member | # | All-Star |
| Pick | Player | Country of origin* | PBA team | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japeth Aguilar* | Burger King Whoppers (from Barako Bull) | WKU | |
| none [the second overall draft pick was owned by the defunct Shell Turbo Chargers (from Coca-Cola)] | ||||
| 2 | Rico Maierhofer# | Purefoods TJ Giants | De La Salle | |
| 3 | Chris Ross* | Burger King Whoppers | Marshall | |
| 4 | Jervy Cruz | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | UST | |
| 5 | Mike Burtscher | Alaska Aces | [] | |
| 6 | Rogemar Menor | Burger King Whoppers (from Barako Bull) | San Beda | |
| 7 | Chris Timberlake | Barangay Ginebra Kings (traded to Purefoods) | North Florida | |
| 8 | Ronnie Matias | Burger King Whoppers | UM | |
| 9 | James Sena | San Miguel Beermen | JRU |
Round 2
[edit]| Pick | Player | Country of origin* | PBA team | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark Lester Benitez | Sta. Lucia Realtors (from Coca-Cola) | De La Salle | |
| 2 | Benedict Fernandez | Barako Bull Energy Boosters | FEU | |
| 3 | Edwin Asoro | Barako Bull Energy Boosters (from Purefoods) | NU | |
| 4 | Francis Allera | Burger King Whoppers (traded to Coca-Cola) | UST | |
| 5 | Marcy Arellano | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | UE | |
| 6 | Sean Co | Alaska Aces (from Rain or Shine) | Mapua | |
| 7 | Charles Waters | Sta. Lucia Realtors | ||
| 8 | Orlando Daroya | Barangay Ginebra Kings (traded to Burger King) | Arellano | |
| 9 | Kevin White | Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | West Hills | |
| 10 | PJ Walsham | Burger King Whoppers (from San Miguel, traded to Coca-Cola) | De La Salle |
Undrafted players
[edit]- Josh Urbiztondo – signed with Sta. Lucia Realty
- Bryan Faundo from Letran – signed with Barako Bull Energy Boosters
- Marlon Adolfo from Far Eastern
- Charleston Bocias from Sta. Francis of Assisi
- Kim Macanig - Philippine Christian University
- Axel John Doruelo from UP Diliman – signed with Thailand Tigers in the ABL – signed with Petron Blaze Boosters
- Jim Bruce Viray from San Sebastian – signed by the Barako Bull Energy Boosters as free agent
- Luis Palaganas East
- Leemore Boliver from Arellano / Philippine Christian University
- Glenn Bolocon from Emilio Aguinaldo
- Roel Hugnatan from Adamson
- Richard Saladaga from San Jose - Recoletos
- Dino Daa from Letran – signed with Philippine Patriots in the ABL
- Jonathan Pinera from Letran
- Jorel Canizares from East
- Gerry Orera from Adamson
- Ramsey Williams from Hawaii – signed with Quezon Red Oilers in the Liga Pilipinas and picked up by Burger King as a free agent
- Jerome Cenita from San Sebastian - Cavite
- Jemal Vizcarra from Santo Tomas
- Roser Mangahas from Far Eastern University
- Jerby Del Rosario from Mapua
- Floyd Dedicatoria from JRU
- Jan Philip Villaver from San Sebastian - Cavite
- Chris Viardo from Pilgrim High School
- Howard Saddi from Centro Escolar University
- Hafer Mondragon from Letran – signed with Philippine Patriots in the ABL
- Raymond Aguilar from National
- Cris Angelo Espinosa from JRU
- Allan Evangelista from Santo Tomas
- Andro Quinday from Letran
- Emmanuel Malasig from Berkeley (US)
- Jobe Nkemakolam from Ateneo
- Jonathan Uyloan – signed by Rain or Shine Elasto Painters as a free agent
- Jonathan Parreno from WMSU
Note
[edit]*All aspirants are Filipinos until proven otherwise.
References
[edit]- ^ Aguilar faces ‘life-time’ ban in PBA
- ^ "Aguilar decides to join Burger King". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on October 13, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
- ^ Purefoods rout Burger King
- ^ Burger King to trade Aguilar
- ^ PBA sets hefty P10M fine for future walkouts, GMANews.tv
External links
[edit]2009 PBA draft
View on GrokipediaBackground
Draft overview and process
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) draft serves as an annual mechanism for its teams to select eligible amateur players, allowing the league to infuse fresh talent into professional rosters from collegiate, semi-professional, and other non-professional basketball circuits. The 2009 edition of this event took place on August 2, 2009, at the Market! Market! activity center in Taguig City, Philippines, with live coverage provided by Solar TV starting at 4:00 p.m.[4] The draft followed a structured two-round format, limited to one selection per team in each round across the league's 10 franchises at the time. Selection order was primarily based on the inverse of the teams' regular-season standings from the preceding 2008–09 PBA season, fostering competitive balance by awarding higher picks to underperforming squads; however, the first three picks were determined via a lottery system among the three lowest-ranked teams to prevent deliberate tanking.[5] The 2009 draft featured the forfeiture of the No. 2 pick, which had been traded to the defunct Shell Turbo Chargers (who exited after the 2004–05 season).[4] Specific 2009 rules mandated that draftees be amateurs without any prior professional basketball experience, ensuring a pool of uncontracted players, while the PBA commissioner's office managed the entire proceedings, including applicant verification and rule enforcement.[4] Japeth Aguilar emerged as the first overall selection in this lottery-adjusted process.[4]Eligibility criteria and lottery
To be eligible for the 2009 PBA draft, players had to be amateurs who formally declared their intent by submitting applications to the league. Local-born Filipino players faced a deadline of July 24, 2009, while Fil-foreign applicants had an earlier cutoff of June 22, 2009, after which a preliminary list was released and a contestability period ran until July 23, 2009.[6] Fil-foreign players, who needed to hold Philippine passports and provide proof of Filipino parentage via documents like birth certificates, marriage certificates, and affidavits from three witnesses, were required to have played a minimum of 15 games—including exhibition and tune-up matches—in PBA-accredited leagues; this threshold was relaxed from the previous 25-game rule to broaden the pool of international amateurs.[6] The applicant pool featured college standouts from Philippine institutions as well as international talents, exemplified by Japeth Aguilar, a 6-foot-9 center who played for Ateneo de Manila University before transferring to Western Kentucky University in the NCAA Division I.[6] The draft lottery for the top picks was designed to assign positions randomly among non-playoff teams from the prior season, with odds weighted by regular-season records to discourage intentional poor performance; the worst-performing team received the highest probability, similar to the league's general lottery mechanics used until 2014.[7] In 2009, the lottery among the three lowest-ranked active teams resulted in Burger King Whoppers securing the No. 1 pick, enabling their selection of Aguilar and sparking subsequent contract disputes.[1] Shell's No. 2 pick, acquired via prior trade from Coca-Cola Tigers, was ultimately forfeited due to the franchise's departure from the PBA in 2005, leaving no team to exercise it and effectively skipping the slot in the proceedings.[1] This forfeiture shifted Purefoods into the No. 3 position, where they drafted forward Rico Maierhofer from De La Salle University, bolstering their frontcourt depth earlier than anticipated in the reverse-order standings and influencing initial roster builds for the 2009-10 season.[1]Pre-draft events
Participating teams and pick order
The 2009 PBA draft featured the 10 active teams from the 2008–09 PBA season, whose cumulative win-loss records determined the initial pick order in reverse finishing position. Poorer performing teams received higher priority, with the five worst teams—Barako Bull Energy Boosters, Welcoat Dragons, Air21 Express, Burger King Whoppers, and Coca-Cola Tigers—entering a lottery for the top five selections.[8] The teams' 2008–09 cumulative records were:| Team | Games Played | Wins | Losses | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Miguel Beermen | 57 | 34 | 23 | .596 |
| Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | 46 | 26 | 20 | .565 |
| Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | 46 | 25 | 21 | .543 |
| Barangay Ginebra Kings | 46 | 25 | 21 | .543 |
| Alaska Aces | 46 | 24 | 22 | .522 |
| Coca-Cola Tigers | 46 | 23 | 23 | .500 |
| Burger King Whoppers | 46 | 22 | 24 | .478 |
| Air21 Express | 46 | 21 | 25 | .457 |
| Welcoat Dragons | 46 | 20 | 26 | .435 |
| Barako Bull Energy Boosters | 46 | 19 | 27 | .413 |
| Pick | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burger King Whoppers | Acquired from Barako Bull Energy Boosters |
| 2 | Forfeited | Owned by defunct Shell Turbo Chargers (acquired from Coca-Cola Tigers) |
| 3 | Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | |
| 4 | Burger King Whoppers | Acquired from Barako Bull Energy Boosters |
| 5 | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | (formerly branded as Welcoat Dragons) |
| 6 | Alaska Aces | |
| 7 | Barako Bull Energy Boosters | Acquired from Sta. Lucia Realtors |
| 8 | Barangay Ginebra Kings | |
| 9 | San Miguel Beermen | |
| 10 | Coca-Cola Tigers | Acquired from Air21 Express |
Japeth Aguilar controversy
Japeth Aguilar, a 6-foot-9 center who played college basketball for Ateneo de Manila University from 2003 to 2005 and Western Kentucky University from 2007 to 2009, emerged as the consensus top prospect for the 2009 PBA draft due to his size, athleticism, and international experience.[11][2] On August 2, 2009, the Burger King Whoppers selected him first overall at the draft held at Market! Market! in Taguig, securing his rights with the expectation of offering a maximum three-year contract valued at P8.7 million.[11][12] Shortly after the draft, Aguilar refused to sign with Burger King, stating his intention to join the Smart Gilas Pilipinas national team full-time under coach Rajko Toroman to prepare for international competitions, believing he was not yet ready for professional play due to limited competitive experience abroad.[12][13] His decision, influenced by advisers who had encouraged his draft entry despite his initial plans to prioritize national team duties, sparked a two-month standoff that drew widespread media attention and criticism for breaching the implied commitment of entering the draft.[12][14] The PBA responded aggressively, with commissioner Lito Alvarez announcing that Aguilar would face a potential lifetime ban from the league if he did not sign, and an agreement with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) barred him from playing for Smart Gilas until resolving his obligations with Burger King.[15][14] Negotiations intensified in early October 2009, involving PBA officials, SBP chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, and Aguilar's representatives, culminating in Aguilar signing a one-year contract with Burger King worth P1.8 million on October 9.[16] He made his PBA debut four days later on October 11 against Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs, playing 24 minutes and recording 10 points and nine rebounds in a 79-86 loss, his only game with the Whoppers.[17] Immediately following, on October 12, Burger King traded Aguilar to Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters via conduit team Barako Bull Energy Cola—due to league rules prohibiting direct trades between teams with common ownership interests—receiving in return Talk 'N Text's first-, second-, and third-round picks in the 2010 draft; Talk 'N Text then loaned him to Smart Gilas for national team commitments.[16][13] The Aguilar holdout exposed vulnerabilities in the PBA's draft system regarding player commitments and national team overlaps, prompting the league to enforce stricter penalties under existing rules allowing two-year sit-outs for unsigned draftees and leading to proposals for fines, extended bans, and even lifetime prohibitions on holdouts by 2010 and beyond.[12][18] This resolution via loan agreement set a precedent for handling similar conflicts, emphasizing compromise between club and national team obligations.[13]Draft selections
First round
The first round of the 2009 PBA draft, held on August 2 at the Market! Market! Activity Center in Taguig City, featured 10 picks, though only nine players were selected due to the forfeiture of the second pick by the Shell Turbo Chargers as a penalty for previous league violations, which shifted all subsequent selections forward.[1] Burger King dominated the round with three picks, reflecting their aggressive rebuilding strategy after acquiring the top selection via trade from Barako Bull.[10]| Pick | Team | Player | Position | Height | College/Amateur Background |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burger King Whoppers | Japeth Aguilar | C | 6'9" | Ateneo de Manila University, Western Kentucky University |
| 3 | Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | Rico Maierhofer | F | 6'6" | De La Salle University |
| 4 | Burger King Whoppers | Chris Ross | G | 6'0" | Marshall University (after Panola JC and McLennan JC) |
| 5 | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | Jervy Cruz | PG | 6'1" | University of Santo Tomas |
| 6 | Alaska Aces | Michael Burtscher | PF | 6'5" | Clearwater Christian College |
| 7 | Barako Bull Energy Boosters | Rogemar "Ogie" Menor | SG/SF | 6'2" | San Beda College |
| 8 | Barangay Ginebra Kings | Chris Timberlake | PG | 5'10" | University of North Florida |
| 9 | Burger King Whoppers | Ronnie Matias | SF/PF | 6'4" | University of Manila |
| 10 | San Miguel Beermen | James Ryan Sena | F | 6'5" | Jose Rizal University |
Second round
The second round of the 2009 PBA draft, comprising overall picks 11 through 20, emphasized developmental prospects and role players, contrasting with the star power of the first round by prioritizing depth in guard play, frontcourt versatility, and immediate bench contributions over high-upside big men. Teams sought to bolster specific weaknesses, such as perimeter shooting and interior muscle, amid a talent pool perceived as shallower than the first round's elite amateurs, where top talents like Japeth Aguilar dominated headlines. This round featured several trades, including Coca-Cola Tigers acquiring picks from Burger King Whoppers, reflecting strategic maneuvering for undervalued college standouts. The following table lists the second-round selections:| Overall Pick | Team | Player | Position | Height | College/Amateur Background |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Sta. Lucia Realtors | Mark Benitez | F/C | 6'4" | De La Salle University (former UAAP standout with eligibility concerns) |
| 12 | Barako Bull Energy Boosters | Benedict Fernandez | PG | 5'11" | Far Eastern University (UAAP champion with Harbour Centre) |
| 13 | Barako Bull Energy Boosters | Edwin Asoro | F | 6'2" | National University (UAAP forward known for scoring) |
| 14 | Coca-Cola Tigers (from Burger King) | Francis Allera | F | 6'4" | University of Santo Tomas (UAAP champion shooter) |
| 15 | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | Marcelino "Marcy" Arellano | PG | 5'9" | University of the East (UAAP playmaker) |
| 16 | Alaska Aces (from Rain or Shine) | Sean Co | G | 6'0" | Mapúa Cardinals (NCAA perimeter threat) |
| 17 | Sta. Lucia Realtors | Lamont "Charles" Waters | F | 6'5" | Liga Pilipinas (experienced forward, brother-in-law of Kelly Williams) |
| 18 | Barangay Ginebra Kings | Orlando Daroya | F | 6'3" | Arellano University (NCAA versatile wing) |
| 19 | Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters | Kevin White | PG | 6'0" | West Hills College (Fil-Am guard, nephew of Jimmy Alapag) |
| 20 | Coca-Cola Tigers (from San Miguel via Burger King) | PJ Walsham | F/C | 6'5" | De La Salle University (UAAP big man for rebounding) |
