“A wake-up call”: Dalph Panopio aims to improve after rough Blackwater debut

Former Gilas Pilipinas youth standout Dalph Panopio officially began his PBA journey after being selected third overall by the Blackwater Bossing in the 2025 PBA Rookie Draft, held Sunday, September 7, at the Mall of Asia Music Hall.

Touted as one of the most promising prospects in this year’s draft class, the 25-year-old Filipino-Italian guard entered the league with high expectations, thanks to his extensive international résumé. But Panopio’s debut in Blackwater colors didn’t go as planned.

In a tune-up game against the Converge FiberXers on Saturday, September 20, at the Hoops Center in Mandaluyong City, Blackwater fell flat, suffering a 96–77 loss, with Panopio struggling to find his rhythm on the floor.

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Following the defeat, Panopio candidly acknowledged the rocky start to his PBA career.

“Personally, I got to step up. It was a rough start, I think, but it got better in the second half. My teammates were a big help and really pushed me, which helped,” he said.

Despite the result, Panopio remained optimistic, saying the game served its purpose as a measuring stick for the team.

Dalph Panopio with a pass to Jed Mendoza during his first tune-up game for Blackwater against Converge earlier today at Hoops Center in Mandaluyong. The Bossing lost, 96-77 | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/AQAcFoX6Na

— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) September 20, 2025

“I think it went really well in terms of showing what we need to work on. The score didn’t go our way, and it’s kind of a wake-up call. But the good thing is that after the game, we understood what we have to improve. Overall, it’s a good start and a good test for us as a team,” he added.

With Blackwater management viewing Panopio as a key piece of their rebuild, expectations are high heading into PBA Season 50. He is projected to form a dynamic backcourt rotation alongside Sedrick Barefield, Christian David, and RK Ilagan.

In the tune-up against Converge, Panopio shared the court with David and Ilagan, while Barefield remained sidelined with a shoulder injury sustained during the Kadayawan Invitational Basketball Tournament in Davao. He is expected to return in time for the PBA Philippine Cup, which tips off on October 5.

“It was a great opportunity to play with CD and RK,” Panopio said. “I didn’t get to play with Sedrick because he’s a little injured, but even from the bench, he was talking to me and being really helpful. This team has a great group of guys.”

“Mababait talaga sila. I’m not worried about the technical stuff on the court because Coach Jeff Cariaso has us covered. I think we just need to keep working and stay consistent. We’re a young team, and it’s really nice to be in a good environment.”

Born in Italy to Filipino parents, Panopio first caught national attention playing for Gilas Pilipinas Youth at the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup in Greece, where he suited up alongside Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, and Carl Tamayo, averaging 5.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists across seven games.

Since then, his career has taken him across three continents. He played college basketball in the US NCAA for Cal State Bakersfield, had a stint in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) with Suwon KT, and most recently starred in the Indian National Basketball League (INBL) with Mumbai T., where he posted averages of 14.9 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in nine games.

Now back in the Philippines, Panopio is set to begin a new chapter as part of Blackwater’s youth movement—one filled with promise, challenges, and the opportunity to make his mark on the league.

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