# 2008 PBA draft

The 2008 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 31, 2008. The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (formerly known as the Welcoat Dragons) selected Gabe Norwood of the George Mason University as the number one draft pick. Players applied for the draft had undergone a two-day rookie camp.

## Round 1

| 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 | Gabe Norwood* | United States | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | George Mason |
| 2 | Jared Dillinger$^#$ | United States | Talk 'N Text Phone Pals | Hawaii |
| 3 | Jayson Castro* | Philippines | Talk 'N Text Phone Pals (from San Miguel Beermen) | PCU |
| 4 | Rob Reyes | United States | Talk 'N Text Phone Pals | Flagler |
| 5 | Sol Mercado$^#$ | United States | Alaska Aces | Biola |
| 6 | Mark Borboran | Philippines | Air21 Express | UE |
| 7 | Beau Belga$^#$ | Philippines | Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | PCU |
| 8 | Bonbon Custodio | Philippines | San Miguel Beermen | UE |
| 9 | Larry Rodriguez | Philippines | Red Bull Barako | PMI |
| 10 | Kelvin Gregorio | Philippines | Sta. Lucia Realtors | UE |

## Round 2

| Pick | Player | Country of origin* | PBA team | College |
| 1 | Pong Escobal | Philippines | Talk 'N Text Phone Pals | San Beda |
| 2 | TY Tang | Philippines | Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | De La Salle |
| 3 | Pocholo Villanueva | Philippines | Air 21 Express | De La Salle |
| 4 | Chito Jaime | Philippines | Sta. Lucia Realtors | AMA |
| 5 | Kelvin dela Peña | Philippines | Alaska Aces | Mapúa |
| 6 | Jonathan Fernandez | Philippines | Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants | NU |
| 7 | Jeff Chan* | Philippines | Red Bull Barako | FEU |
| 8 | Mark Cuevas | United States | Red Bull Barako | Los Angeles County |
| 9 | Christian Cabatu | Philippines | Sta. Lucia Realtors | St. Benilde |

## Undrafted players

| Player | Country of origin* | College |
| Juan Luis Abad | Philippines | St. Benilde |
| Lawrence Bonus | Philippines | UM |
| Patrick Cabahug | Philippines | Adamson |
| Andrew Catigan | Canada | Langara |
| Jan Anthony Coching | Philippines | St. Benilde |
| Dennis Concha | Philippines | |
| Rene Cunanan | Philippines | JRU |
| Kevin Dulafu | United States | Vanguard |
| Nestor David | Philippines | UP Diliman |
| Michael Dizon | United States | Florida College |
| Anthony Espiritu | Philippines | UST |
| Julian Bermejo | Philippines | San Sebastian |
| Ismael Juinio | Philippines | Letran |
| Nizar Kiram | Philippines | St. Francis |
| Ferdie Melocoton | Philippines | EAC |
| Franklyn Nailon | Philippines | UC |
| Ricky Natividad | Philippines | PSBA |
| Leimar Navarro | Philippines | PCU |
| Angelus Raymundo | Philippines | San Beda Alabang / UE |
| Ryan Regalado | Philippines | UM |
| Unik Christian Reyes | Philippines | St. Benilde |
| Earn Saguindel | Philippines | UE |
| Eder Saldua | Philippines | FEU |
| Mark Yee | Philippines | San Sebastian-Cavite |
| Eian Yu | United States | UCLA |
* ↑ Signed by Coca-Cola Tigers as a free agent for the 2008-09 PBA season Philippine Cup
* ↑ Signed by the Burger King Whoppers as a free agent for the 2008-09 PBA season Fiesta Cup

## Draft-day trades

* Jay Washington was traded to the San Miguel Beermen for the rights of Talk 'N Text's third overall pick.

## Off-season trades

* Joe Devance (Rain or Shine Elasto Painters) and 2 second-round picks was traded to Alaska Aces for Solomon Mercado & Eddie Laure

## Note

*All aspirants are Filipinos until proven otherwise.