The PBA Season 50 Rookie Draft just got real.
Filipino-American floor general Jason Brickman and flamboyant standout Juan Gómez de Liaño are officially declaring for the 2025 PBA Draft, with both submitting their applications through veteran agent Marvin Espiritu of Espiritu-Manotoc Basketball Management. Espiritu stated that the paperwork for both players will reach the PBA office ahead of this Friday’s August 29 deadline, clearing the path for what could suddenly be a very intriguing draft class.
And just like that, the top of the board has found its frontrunners.
According to conversations with PBA league sources, Brickman and Gómez de Liaño are widely considered the two most polished prospects in this year’s pool, and there is already internal buzz that they could go No. 1 and No. 2 overall in some order when the Draft unfolds on September 7. Unless a late heavyweight applicant enters the race before the cutoff, the conversation around the top pick has essentially narrowed to two names — and both are now officially in.
The Maestro, Returns
Seasoned at 33, Brickman is hardly your average draft hopeful. But his résumé reads like a basketball passport stamped across continents — and success.
After dominating in the Taiwanese T1 League with Kaohsiung Aquas — earning Most Valuable Import honors, All-League First Team selections, and multiple assists titles — Brickman has spent the last year ramping up his return to Philippine hoops. He recently suited up for Strong Group Athletics at the Dubai Invitational and played for the Abra Solid North Weavers in the MPBL.
Long regarded as one of the best pure point guards to never play in the PBA, Brickman was previously barred from entry due to eligibility issues. But with recent developments, the door finally opened — and Brickman didn’t hesitate.
With career averages including over 9 assists per game in international play and a reputation for surgical decision-making, Brickman brings a veteran’s poise and a playmaker’s mind. The question isn’t whether he’ll make an impact — it’s how soon.
Juan’s Next Chapter
If Brickman is the grizzled general, Juan Gómez de Liaño is the rising star whose light refuses to dim.
Still just 25, Juan GDL has already played professionally in Japan (B2 League), Lithuania (BC Wolves), and Korea (Seoul SK Knights), building a résumé that spans three continents. His college career with the UP Fighting Maroons turned him into a household name, where he won UAAP Rookie of the Year (2017) and a Mythical Five nod (2018) while leading UP to its best run in decades.
After Seoul released him in May, following a buyout of the third year of his contract, Juan shifted his focus back to home soil. He’s now primed to bring his scoring, athleticism, and international experience to the PBA.
With his Gilas chapter currently on pause and free agency behind him, the draft offers Juan a fresh start — and an arena that’s ready for his brand of flash and fire.
The Top Two — Unless…
League sources caution that nothing is set in stone until the final list of applicants is released. The deadline for draft entries is Friday, August 29, and late submissions have swung momentum in years past.
It’s a compelling contrast — Brickman, the seasoned orchestrator looking to finally take the PBA stage, and Juan, the homegrown phenom returning with global exposure. Different stories. Same goal.
And if things break the way they’re trending, the real drama might be which team picks first — and which star they choose to build around.
September 7 is shaping up to be a date with destiny.
Two elite guards. One PBA Draft. And a league ready for a shake-up.
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