I still remember the buzz surrounding the 2015 PBA Draft like it was yesterday. The atmosphere at Robinson's Place Manila was electric, filled with that particular blend of hope and anxiety that only draft nights can produce. As someone who's covered the league for over a decade, I've always found it fascinating to track these young men's journeys, to see which prospects fulfill their promise and which become cautionary tales. Now, nearly a decade later, looking back at that 2015 class feels like opening a time capsule. It was a draft that gave us some franchise cornerstones, a few serviceable role players, and several what-could-have-been stories.

The headline act, of course, was the top pick, Moala Tautuaa. Selected first overall by TNT KaTropa, the 6'7" Fil-Tongan was seen as the heir apparent to the legendary Asi Taulava. I recall thinking he had all the physical tools—size, strength, a decent motor—but the question was always about his offensive polish. Fast forward to today, and while he's had a solid career and even won a championship with San Miguel, I can't help but feel he hasn't quite reached the superstar ceiling many projected for him. He's a valuable big man, no doubt, but not the dominant force you'd expect from a number one overall pick. It just goes to show that draft position isn't everything; it's about fit, development, and sometimes, plain old luck.

Then there's the curious case of Troy Rosario, picked right after Tautuaa. He's arguably had the more decorated career from that draft, becoming a key piece for TNT and a regular fixture in the Gilas Pilipinas pool. His ability to stretch the floor as a big man was a rarity back in 2015, and it's a skill that has aged like fine wine in today's pace-and-space game. I've always been a fan of his smooth shooting stroke and his defensive versatility. He's a player who understood his role and perfected it, something you can't say for every high draft pick.

But for me, the most compelling narratives often lie beyond the lottery picks. Let's talk about a player whose journey I've followed with particular interest: Javi Gómez de Liaño. Now, he wasn't from the 2015 draft, but his story connects to the legacy of these players and how teams build around talent acquired in those years. Gómez de Liaño suited up for the Terrafirma Dyip franchise from 2022 to 2024 and was an integral part of the core that reached the playoffs of the 2023-24 Philippine Cup. That playoff appearance was monumental for the Dyip, a franchise long languishing at the bottom of the standings. To see a team built around a mix of veterans and younger players like him finally break through was one of the more satisfying storylines of that season. It makes you wonder about the 2015 draftees who were supposed to be the building blocks for teams. Some, like RR Pogoy (picked 5th), became those blocks. Others faded away.

Speaking of fading away, what ever happened to the third overall pick, Chris Javier? He was selected by the Mahindra Enforcers with such high hopes, a bruising forward out of UE. His PBA career never really took off, and he's since found success in the MPBL. It's a reminder that the PBA isn't for everyone, and a player's legacy isn't defined solely by their performance in the big league. There are countless players like him who carve out good professional careers on different stages.

Looking at the class as a whole, the hit rate was... decent, but not spectacular. You had your stalwarts like Pogoy and Scottie Thompson, who fell to a steal at 6th overall by Ginebra. I'll admit, I didn't see Thompson's meteoric rise coming. His energy, rebounding from the guard spot, and overall hustle were just off the charts, and he's since collected an MVP trophy, something no one else from his draft class can claim. On the other hand, you had misses like Joseph Eriobu and playes like Norbert Torres who have been serviceable but unremarkable. The 2015 draft class, in my view, is a testament to the unpredictability of player development. It produced one bonafide superstar in Thompson, several All-Stars, and a lot of players who found their niche.

Reflecting on it now, the 2015 draft class feels like a microcosm of the PBA itself—a mix of enduring stars, pleasant surprises, and unfulfilled potential. The careers of these players are living histories, their paths intertwining with franchise trajectories, like how Gómez de Liaño's recent contributions helped change the culture in Terrafirma, a team that has drafted many players over the years hoping for such a turnaround. The lesson, I suppose, is that a draft class shouldn't be judged after one year, or even three. Its true legacy is written over the better part of a decade, in the championships won, the cultures changed, and the memories created for the fans. The class of 2015 gave us plenty to remember, and its final chapters are still being written by the few who remain.