2004 PBA draft
The 2004 PBA draft was the 20th annual rookie draft of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the country's premier professional basketball league, held on January 16, 2004, at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati, Philippines.[1] It introduced a remarkably deep class of collegiate and amateur talents, many of whom became cornerstone players, multiple-time champions, and national team contributors over their careers.[2] The draft's first overall pick was Rich Alvarez from Ateneo de Manila University, selected by the Shell Turbo Chargers; he went on to win the Rookie of the Year award that season.[2] James Yap from the University of the East was chosen second by the Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs and emerged as one of the league's all-time greats, earning two Most Valuable Player awards and leading his team to a grand slam in the 2013–14 season.[2] The third pick, Marc Pingris from Philippine School of Business and Arts, was taken by FedEx Express and became a perennial Mythical Team member known for his rebounding prowess and defensive intensity.[2] Subsequent selections further highlighted the draft's strength, including fourth overall Ranidel de Ocampo from St. Francis of Assisi College by FedEx Express, who enjoyed a 15-season career with multiple championships, and fifth pick Sonny Thoss from James Cook University by the Alaska Aces, a reliable center whose No. 7 jersey was retired by the franchise on March 6, 2022, during halftime against Magnolia.[2][3] Other notable first-rounders included Denver Lopez (sixth, Red Bull Barako), Ervin Sotto (seventh, Purefoods via trade), Nelbert Omolon (eighth, Sta. Lucia), Wesley Gonzales (ninth, FedEx), and Gary David (tenth, Coca-Cola Tigers).[1] Overall, the class produced at least six Mythical Team selections—Yap, Pingris, de Ocampo, Thoss, Omolon, and David—cementing its reputation as one of the PBA's most impactful drafts.[2]Overview
Event details
The 2004 PBA draft took place on January 16, 2004, at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City, Philippines, commencing at 4:00 p.m. after teams set up booths for fan interactions at 3:00 p.m.[4] The event was televised by ABC, which had recently secured broadcasting rights for the PBA season starting that year.[5] The draft featured four rounds of selections, allowing teams to choose from a pool of 46 amateur prospects.[4] All 10 active PBA teams participated in the draft: Shell Turbo Chargers, Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs, FedEx Express, Alaska Aces, Red Bull Barako, Sta. Lucia Realtors, Talk 'N Text Phone Pals, Coca-Cola Tigers, Barangay Ginebra Kings, and San Miguel Beermen.[6] This draft marked the conclusion of the PBA's traditional calendar-year scheduling, with the league transitioning to an October-to-July format for the 2004–05 season and holding subsequent drafts later in the year, such as the 2005 event in August.[7]Historical significance
The 2004 PBA draft occurred during a transformative period for the league's talent acquisition, as drafts evolved from the diverse amateur circuits dominating the 1980s and 1990s—often including commercial league standouts and miscellaneous prospects—to more structured pools emphasizing collegiate excellence by the early 2000s. This change reflected the surging prominence of university basketball, particularly in the UAAP and NCAA, which had become prime breeding grounds for professional talent due to increased exposure and competitive intensity. The 2004 edition amplified this trend, drawing widespread pre-draft excitement for its robust lineup of college phenoms, such as Ateneo's two-time UAAP MVP Rich Alvarez and UE's James Yap, complemented by promising international amateurs and other NCAA standouts like Marc Pingris from PSBA.[2] Renowned for its extraordinary depth, the 2004 draft produced six players who earned Mythical Team selections during their careers: James Yap, Marc Pingris, Ranidel de Ocampo, Sonny Thoss, Nelbert Omolon, and Gary David. This haul of elite performers not only showcased individual brilliance—Yap, for instance, becoming a two-time MVP and grand slam champion—but also fueled several team successes in the mid-2000s, including multiple titles for franchises like Purefoods and Alaska, thereby boosting the PBA's overall parity and star power. Experts, including Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas official Ryan Gregorio, have highlighted how the class's quality meant even mid-first-round picks like Gary David (No. 10) developed into reliable contributors, underscoring the draft's lasting influence on league dynamics.[2] Compared to the 2003 draft, headlined by De La Salle's Mike Cortez as the top pick and focused more on established college guards, the 2004 class offered greater versatility and volume of impact players across positions, making it a benchmark for subsequent talent influxes. It foreshadowed even richer pools like 2006, which introduced stars such as LA Tenorio and Kelly Williams, yet the 2004 group remains celebrated for its immediate transformative effect. Furthermore, held on January 16, 2004, it was the final draft under the PBA's traditional calendar-year timing, as the league—following a 2003 restructuring to a two-conference format—shifted the 2004-05 season start to October, prompting later drafts to align with the new calendar beginning in 2005.[2][8]Draft process
Eligibility and lottery
To be eligible for the 2004 PBA draft, players had to be amateurs with no prior professional experience in the league, typically comprising college seniors who had exhausted their four years of eligibility or equivalent underclassmen who met similar criteria. Filipino citizens and naturalized Filipinos were permitted to apply, though fil-foreign applicants faced stricter requirements, including submission of Bureau of Immigration certification verifying their Philippine passport status and Department of Justice confirmation of their citizenship eligibility.[9] A total of 46 players submitted applications for the draft. To evaluate these candidates, the PBA organized a pre-draft camp in early January 2004 at the Quezon Memorial Circle, where teams scouted prospects through workouts and drills.[10][5] The selection order was established through a system based on the reverse standings from the 2003 PBA season, with the worst-performing team receiving the first pick; unlike some other leagues, there was no formal lottery drawing, but the weighting emphasized results from the All-Filipino Cup. The Shell Turbo Chargers earned the No. 1 overall selection due to their league-worst record of 5 wins and 13 losses in the All-Filipino Cup.[11] Trades prior to the event altered several positions in the order. Notably, Shell acquired San Miguel's seventh pick in exchange for point guard Dale Singson, then traded that seventh pick along with forward Eddie Laure to Purefoods for center Billy Mamaril. These transactions reshaped team strategies without fundamentally disrupting the reverse-standings framework.[12][13] Most selected players in the 2004 draft class were native Filipinos, though fil-foreign prospect Sonny Thoss was picked fifth overall by the Alaska Aces after meeting the documentation requirements, reflecting the reluctance of many fil-foreign prospects to navigate the enhanced process.[9]Selection rules and procedures
The 2004 PBA draft followed a sequential format where teams selected players one at a time in reverse order of their previous season's standings, with each round proceeding from the team with the worst record to the best. This structure ensured that underperforming teams had priority access to top amateur talent, promoting competitive balance across the league. There were no territorial picks or special allocations granted to any team during this draft, distinguishing it from later iterations of the PBA selection process.[12] PBA Commissioner Noli Eala presided over the event, which took place on January 16, 2004, at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City, with proceedings beginning at 6 p.m. after an afternoon buildup of fans and participants.[14] Players were either present in person or represented by agents, allowing for direct announcements of selections amid a record crowd turnout for a PBA draft. Informal time limits of approximately 5-10 minutes per pick were observed, consistent with league norms to maintain pace without rigid enforcement. Teams had the option to pass on their turn, retaining rights to future selections, as demonstrated by the San Miguel Beermen, who passed in the second round (their 17th overall pick) and third round to prioritize pursuits in free agency instead.[14] Selections were informed by extensive team scouting, relying heavily on college and amateur league statistics, such as performances in the UAAP and PBL, along with direct evaluations of player skills and potential fit.[12] Following the draft, selected players entered negotiations for rookie contracts, with teams required to tender offers by a deadline or risk the draftee becoming an unrestricted free agent; in 2004, only 18 of the 27 picks received initial token offers, typically spanning 2-3 years with varying salary structures and team options.[15]Round-by-round selections
First round
The first round of the 2004 PBA draft took place on January 16, 2004, at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City, where teams selected the top amateur prospects amid high anticipation for a deep talent pool. Shell Turbo Chargers held the first pick after finishing last in the previous season, setting the stage for selections focused on immediate team needs like scoring, defense, and versatility. The round produced several blue-chip prospects, with teams prioritizing players who could contribute right away in the competitive Philippine Basketball Association landscape.[10]| Pick | Player | Team | Position | College/University |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rich Alvarez | Shell Turbo Chargers | Small forward | Ateneo de Manila University |
| 2 | James Yap | Purefoods TJ Hotdogs | Shooting guard | University of the East |
| 3 | Marc Pingris | FedEx Express | Power forward | Philippine School of Business Administration |
| 4 | Ranidel de Ocampo | FedEx Express | Small forward | Saint Francis of Assisi College System |
| 5 | Sonny Thoss | Alaska Aces | Center | James Cook University |
| 6 | Denver Lopez | Red Bull Thunder | Point guard | California State University, Fullerton |
| 7 | Ervin Sotto | Purefoods TJ Hotdogs (traded to Shell Turbo Chargers) | Center | Saint Francis of Assisi College System |
| 8 | Nelbert Omolon | Sta. Lucia Realtors | Shooting guard | Philippine Christian University |
| 9 | Wesley Gonzales | FedEx Express | Point guard | Ateneo de Manila University |
| 10 | Gary David | Coca-Cola Tigers | Shooting guard | Lyceum of the Philippines University |
Second round
The second round of the 2004 PBA draft featured selections from the 11th to 19th overall picks, where teams prioritized role players, specialists, and prospects to enhance bench depth and address targeted weaknesses such as perimeter defense and backup scoring. Unlike the first round's emphasis on high-potential stars like James Yap, this phase highlighted mid-tier talents from established college programs, with several picks emerging as valuable undrafted gems for their specialized skills.[2][11] The following table summarizes the second-round selections, including player positions and collegiate backgrounds:| Pick | Player | Position | College/University | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Paul Artadi | Point guard | University of the East | Purefoods TJ Hotdogs |
| 12 | Carlo Sharma | Power forward | De La Salle University | Shell Turbo Chargers |
| 13 | Kim Valenzuela | Point guard | Cuyamaca College | Sta. Lucia Realtors |
| 14 | Niño Gelig | Shooting guard | University of Santo Tomas | Talk 'N Text Phone Pals |
| 15 | Willy Wilson | Small forward | De La Salle University | Alaska Aces |
| 16 | Francis Mercado | Guard | San Beda College | Red Bull Thunder |
| 17 | Ronald Cuan | Guard | De La Salle University | Sta. Lucia Realtors |
| 18 | Christopher Guerrero | Forward | University of the Southern Philippines | Talk 'N Text Phone Pals |
| 19 | Manny Ramos | Center | De La Salle University | Coca-Cola Tigers |
Third round
The third round of the 2004 PBA draft, spanning picks 20 through 24, shifted emphasis toward developmental players and local talents to address team-specific depth needs, as high-priority selections had largely concluded in earlier rounds. With only five picks made due to strategic passes under the league's selection rules, this stage highlighted prospects from Philippine colleges, except for one Fil-American, signaling a transition to building bench support rather than immediate starters. San Miguel Beermen passed on their allotted pick, preserving resources for potential trades or free agency moves.[14][18] The selections underscored a preference for versatile local guards and forwards capable of contributing in rotational roles, drawn primarily from UAAP and NCAA programs. Barangay Ginebra Kings opened the round by selecting shooting guard Theodore Hawkins Jr. from Cosumnes River College, adding international experience to their backcourt. FedEx Express followed with guard Manuel Huelar from the University of San Jose-Recoletos, a 5-foot-11 playmaker noted for his speed in amateur leagues like the PABL and MBA.[2][18][14] Alaska Aces then picked forward Bernzon Franco from Philippine Christian University, a 6-foot-4 athlete valued for his rebounding potential despite limited immediate impact. Talk 'N Text Phone Pals selected guard Epok Quimpo from Ateneo de Manila University, bringing collegiate poise to their perimeter depth. The round closed with Coca-Cola Tigers drafting small forward Rhagnee Sinco from Far Eastern University, a defensive specialist who later showed promise in lower-tier leagues.[16][2]| Pick | Player | Position | Team | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Theodore Hawkins Jr. | SG | Barangay Ginebra Kings | Cosumnes River College |
| 21 | Manuel Huelar | G | FedEx Express | University of San Jose-Recoletos |
| 22 | Bernzon Franco | F | Alaska Aces | Philippine Christian University |
| 23 | Epok Quimpo | G | Talk 'N Text Phone Pals | Ateneo de Manila University |
| 24 | Rhagnee Sinco | SF | Coca-Cola Tigers | Far Eastern University |
Fourth round
The fourth round of the 2004 PBA draft marked the conclusion of the selection process, with only three players chosen in picks 25 through 27, as several teams passed on additional slots. This stage drew limited interest compared to the earlier rounds, with franchises focusing on prospects who could contribute to practice squads or provide bench depth rather than immediate starters. The total number of picks ended at 27 due to these passes by teams including Red Bull, San Miguel, and Sta. Lucia. The selections in this round were as follows:| Pick | Player | Position | Team | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Niño Bien Marquez | Guard | FedEx Express | Philippine Merchant Marine Institute |
| 26 | Eric dela Cuesta | Forward | Alaska Aces | Asian College of Technology, Cebu |
| 27 | Warren Ybañez | Guard | Coca-Cola Tigers | Philippine School of Business Administration |