I still remember the excitement surrounding the 2014 PBA Draft like it was yesterday. The buzz at the Robinson's Place Manila was electric, with fans and analysts alike debating which prospects would become the next basketball legends. Now, nearly a decade later, it's fascinating to look back at how these players' careers have unfolded—some becoming household names, others fading into obscurity, and a few taking unexpected paths that remind us how unpredictable professional sports can be.
When I think about that draft class, Stanley Pringle immediately comes to mind as the clear standout. Selected first overall by GlobalPort, Pringle has lived up to the hype, becoming a six-time PBA All-Star and winning two championships. His career averages of around 15 points and 4 assists per game don't fully capture his impact—he's been the engine for every team he's played for. Then there's June Mar Fajardo, who was technically drafted in 2012 but had to wait two years before joining the league due to his collegiate commitments. What can I say about Fajardo that hasn't been said already? The man has redefined greatness in the PBA with his record six MVP awards and countless championships with San Miguel. Watching him dominate the paint year after year has been an absolute privilege.
But not every story from that draft class follows a straight path to stardom. I've always had a soft spot for the underdogs, which is why Kevin Racal's journey resonates with me. Drafted 18th overall by Alaska, Racal wasn't the most talented player, but my goodness, his defensive intensity was something special. He carved out a solid seven-year career through sheer determination before surprisingly retiring in 2021 to focus on farming—a move that shocked many but somehow made perfect sense for someone who always marched to his own beat. Then there are players like Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, who I believed had all the tools to become a star. Selected fourth overall, he showed flashes of brilliance but never quite put it all together consistently, bouncing between four teams before finding his groove with TNT where he's become a reliable role player.
What really fascinates me about tracking these players years later are the unexpected connections that emerge. I'll never forget running into a former second-round pick from that draft class at a coffee shop last year. He reached out casually, saying "Nothing too concrete, he just reached out and asked if we could have coffee. So I said, 'Okay, we'll schedule something.'" That casual meeting revealed so much about the reality for many professional athletes—the uncertainty after basketball, the networking, the quiet efforts to figure out what comes next. He wasn't looking for anything specific, just connection and perspective, which reminded me that behind every draft pick is a human being navigating life's complexities.
Looking at the class as a whole, I'd estimate about 60% of the 42 players drafted are still active in the PBA or other leagues, while the others have moved on to coaching, business, or completely different careers. The 2014 draft produced approximately 15 All-Star appearances collectively, with players combining for roughly 20 championships across various teams. What strikes me most is how their paths have diverged—from Fajardo building a legitimate case as the greatest PBA player of all time to players like Prince Caperal, who has quietly become one of the league's most reliable big men despite being drafted 30th overall.
Reflecting on this draft class reminds me why I love following sports narratives beyond the headlines. The first-round picks get the attention, but it's the later picks and their journeys that often tell the more compelling stories. The 2014 group shows that draft position only matters so much—what happens afterward, the work ethic, the adaptability, and sometimes plain luck determine who thrives and who doesn't. As I look at current drafts, I find myself wondering which of today's prospects we'll be reminiscing about ten years from now, and whose paths will surprise us the most.
