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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Unheralded Sonny Estil boosts stock with solid Draft Combine showing

Unheralded Sonny Estil boosts stock with solid Draft Combine showing

Published Sep 6, 2025 09:24 am

At A Glance

  • A journeyman in college, Sonny Estil, who hailed from Agusan Del Sur, is hoping to find a team to settle in when he makes the leap to the PBA.
A journeyman in college, Agusan Del Sur native Sonny Estil is hoping to find a team to settle in when he makes the leap to the PBA.
And he certainly made a strong case after boosting his stock with a solid performance in the two-day PBA Draft Combine that saw him not only become the mini-tournament’s Most Valuable Player but also the hero for his team to win the championship.
Estil, with his lanky 6-foot-3 frame, scored on a backdoor cut to give his team, Barangay Ginebra a 37-35 win over San Miguel in the final game of the Draft Combine on Friday, Sept. 5 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Estil was joined by fellow PBA hopefuls Mario Barasi, Mark Denver Omega, Justine Guevarra, Isaiah Africano, John Barba, and DJ Howe in the championship team that also won P50,000.
He also received P10,000 for winning the tournament MVP award while also joining top prospect Dalph Panopio as well as Edrian Ramirez, Jun Roque and Mario Barasi in the Mythical Five.
While a big break has been elusive for Estil as far as his college career is concerned – having joined several schools like University of Santo Tomas, San Beda, University of Perpetual and Letran only to red shirt for a year but not get the chance to play, Estil was hoping that his performance would be enough to change his fortune and get to play in the big league.
“Sana po. Sana may kumuha thankful naman tayo dun kasi iyon naman talaga yung pangarap mo yung mag PBA,“ said Estil.
“Kumpiyansa lang tsaka siguro ibibigay naman ni  Lord iyon sa trabaho ko rin sa pag eextra (work) ko,“ he added.
He is currently playing in the MPBL with the Pampanga Giant Lanterns after being brought to the team by Pampanga vice governor Delta Pineda.
It was also Pineda, who is an assistant coach at Converge, who pushed him to apply for this year's draft.
“Napakaswerte. Thankful ako kay Lord, sa mga teammates ko tsaka sa opportunity na ito na binigay ni boss Delta Pineda,“ said Estil.
Estil, will now be part of the 125 PBA draftees who will wait their name to be called in the proceedings on Sunday, Sept. 7 at the Mall of Asia Music Hall.
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