The journey now begins for the players who were once PBA hopefuls.

As expected, Terrafirma Dyip tapped Fil-American guard Stephen Holt as their first overall pick in the Season 48 PBA Gatorade Rookie Draft at the Market! Market! In Taguig City on Sunday, Sept. 17.

A big point guard who has already played around the globe with stints in the NBA G-League, Europe and Australia, head coach Johnedel Cardel went for arguably the best talent in the deep draft pool this year.

At 31-years-old, the 6-foot-4 playmaker is expected to be an immediate contributor for the Dyip and should also form a potent backcourt tandem with main man Juami Tiongson.

Blackwater, on the other hand, picked 6-foot-6 Fil-Canadian forward Christian David for the second overall pick.

David was supposed to play in the Korean Basketball League but was released due to a nagging injury. Now back in full health, his size should be a great addition for the Bossing.

Rain or Shine then went for size in with its third and fourth overall picks, tapping former University of the East forward Luis Villegas and Keith Datu, respectively. 

The 6-foot-7 Villegas and 6-foot-8 Datu should inject young blood to the frontline of the Elasto Painters which have Beau Belga and Jewel Ponferrada.

Their addition is also tipped to put a perfect complement to head coach Yeng Guiao’s explosive backcourt in the likes of Andrei Caracut, Anton Asistio and Gian Mamuyac.

Former University of the Philippines forward Zav Lucero then wound up the Top 5 picks after NorthPort selected him to join an already athletic forward rotation that also has Joshua Munzon and Arvin Tolentino.

Former FEU standout and Wellington Saints forward in the New Zealand-NBL Ken Tuffin then landed on the lap of Phoenix at the No.6 pick. NLEX pulled off the biggest surprise in the first round of the draft, tapping unheralded Richard Rodger at the seventh pick.

Brandon Bates, projected an early first rounder, slid down to the No.8 pick, joining Meralco while Converge added former UAAP stars Schonny Winston and BJ Andrade in the ninth and tenth overall picks.

Rounding out the first round were Cade Flores and TJ Miller joining the NorthPort and Terrafirma as the 11th and 12th overall picks respectively.