August 29, 2025 | 12:00am
Three six-foot level guards are anticipated to be picked early within the PBA draft on Sept. 7 with Jason Brickman, Dalph Panopio and Juan Gomez de Liaño thought of blue-chippers who’ll make a right away influence on the league, irrespective of the groups that land them.
Brickman, 33, is the decide of the lot. Like Caelan Tiongson and Stephen Holt who entered the draft of their 30s, Brickman is an skilled “rookie” with stops in Russia, Germany, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and the Philippines for ABL and MPBL. His creds are excellent. Brickman has gained championships in highschool, Thailand (thrice), Taiwan, ABL and Jones Cup (thrice). He’s been described as one other John Stockton.
At Lengthy Island College in NCAA D1, Brickman dazzled the consultants together with his passing capability and ended his collegiate profession becoming a member of Bobby Hurley, Chris Corchiani and Ed Cota as the one gamers to rack up no less than 1,000 assists. In his senior season in 2013-14, Brickman averaged 10 factors and 11.5 assists to develop into solely the primary D1 participant to norm double figures in each classes since Avery Johnson in 1987-88. Within the Taiwan league in 2023-24, Brickman averaged 17.9 factors, 6.3 rebounds and 12.7 assists over 17 video games with the Kaohsiung Aquas. He led the league in assists, three-point share (.451) and free throw share (.865). Brickman would’ve joined the PBA draft years in the past nevertheless it took time to obtain his Philippine passport. Now, it’s all good and he’s able to strut his wares.
Panopio, 25, was born in Rome to Filipino dad and mom with roots in Batangas and Mindoro. He performed within the Italian Serie B and A2 leagues earlier than shifting to the US to swimsuit up for South Plains junior faculty and California State College at Bakersfield. After two seasons at Bakersfield, Panopio went to Korea however a again concern hampered his keep then moved to the Indian league the place he averaged 14.9 factors, 3.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists, taking pictures .385 from three, with the Mumbai Titans. Panopio has performed for the Gilas U18 group and repped the nation on the FIBA U19 World Cup in Greece in 2019. He’s extra of a scorer than Brickman however each are crack playmakers.
Gomez de Liaño, 25, was the UAAP Rookie of the Yr with UP in 2017 and has gone full circle in his basketball journey, enjoying in Japan, Lithuania and Korea. He was on the Gilas U16 group that certified for the FIBA U19 World Cup in China in 2017 and in addition noticed motion with Gilas on the FIBA Asia Cup and World Cup qualifiers in 2022-23. His brother Javi is now with Magnolia and it’s an ideal time for Gomez de Liaño to set his imprint on the PBA.
There’s one other six-foot level guard whom participant agent Marvin Espiritu mentioned might be the sleeper within the draft. He’s Gjerard Wilson of NCAA D2 LeMoyne-Owen Faculty in Memphis and UE. At LeMoyne-Owen, he averaged 10.4 factors in 81 whole video games over three seasons. Wilson, 24, didn’t make a lot noise in UAAP however Espiritu mentioned he might shock within the execs.
