5 Filipino players who almost went to the NBA

For decades, Filipino basketball fans have lived with the dream of seeing a homegrown Pinoy suit up in the NBA. 

While global stars and naturalized players have occasionally brought the Philippines close to the world’s biggest stage, a handful of pure Filipino talents have carved their own paths and pushed the boundaries of what many once thought impossible.

From towering prospects to electrifying guards who caught the attention of NBA scouts, these players came agonizingly close to breaking through. Their near-misses shaped the country’s basketball story just as much as their on-court triumphs.

Here are the top homegrown Filipino players who almost made the NBA:

• Kai Sotto

Kai Sotto stands as the most legitimate NBA hopeful the Philippines has ever produced. The 7-foot-3 big man worked his way through Ateneo, Gilas youth programs, the G League Ignite system, and the Australian NBL.

Sotto logged multiple official pre-draft workouts with NBA teams in the run-up to the 2022 draft (reported workouts include the Knicks, Pacers, Clippers, Hawks, Magic, and others). He was featured on team workout pages and team video content, and earned Summer League interest leading into and after.

However, Sotto went undrafted. Reports at the time noted limited minutes in the NBL, an ankle tweak that disrupted some workouts, and the recurring NBA concern: scouts liked his tools but questioned polish, strength, and consistent production against high-level pro competition.

KAI SOTTO with his first NBA bucket!

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• Johnny Abarrientos

Johnny Abarrientos is one of the earliest and most legendary Filipino players to come close to making the NBA. After a dominant MVP season in the PBA in 1996, Abarrientos caught the eye of the Charlotte Hornets, who were impressed by his elite speed, court vision, and fearlessness despite his 5’7″ height. 

The Hornets offered him a contract for training camp, a legitimate NBA opportunity unprecedented for a homegrown Filipino at the time. However, Abarrientos ultimately declined to stay with Alaska during their dynasty years, but his near-NBA moment remains a reminder that homegrown Filipinos, at whatever height, can attract NBA scouts.

• Japeth Aguilar

Japeth was a lengthy, athletic center who chased NBA chances long before the modern international pathways were common.

Aguilar pursued his NBA dream full-time in 2012 after attenduing workouts with several D-League teams and was selected in the 2012 NBA D-League draft by the Santa Cruz Warriors (making him one of the earliest fully homegrown Filipinos drafted into the D-League).

Aguilar’s D-League slot and workouts signaled interest but did not translate into an NBA training-camp or 10-day contract. At the time, the path from D-League roster to NBA call-up was narrower and the international scouting spotlight on Filipino bigs was still small. Aguilar returned to the PBA, where he became a star. 

• Ray Parks Jr.

Parks Jr., raised and developed largely in the Philippines, quickly became one of the most athletic and versatile wings the country has produced. Known for his slashing, finishing, and defensive potential, he had the tools NBA scouts look for in a modern guard/wing prospect.

In 2015, Parks received official invitations to the NBA Global Camp, an elite showcase for top international prospects. He also participated in private workouts with NBA teams, including the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers. Scouts reportedly praised his athleticism, explosiveness, and ability to guard multiple positions, making him one of the few Filipino guards actively considered for the NBA at the time.

Despite the workouts and Global Camp exposure, Parks went undrafted. NBA teams cited areas of concern, including his experience against high-level pro competition, refinement of shooting mechanics, and positional size. 

• Kiefer Ravena

An elite UAAP guard with pro production, Kiefer had the IQ, craft, and size to intrigue G-League evaluators.

Ravena attended the NBA D-League (now G League) national tryouts and spent time in the U.S. training and participating in developmental stints; he was reported to have been in sessions with the Texas Legends and other D-League organizations as a developmental player. 

He received follow-up interest and tryout opportunities. Contractual obligations and timing ultimately kept him from a sustained G-League push. 

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