From unknown to Gin King: Tim Cone hails Sonny Estil at No. 11 in PBA Draft

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel made one of the most talked-about moves of the 2025 PBA Rookie Draft after selecting forward Sonny Estil as the No. 11 overall pick on Sunday, September 7, at the Mall of Asia Music Hall.

Estil entered the draft as a virtual unknown but turned heads during the two-day Draft Combine at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig, where he emerged as Most Valuable Player (MVP). His performance put him on the radar of every team, but it was Ginebra head coach Tim Cone who made sure to grab him when the opportunity came.

“When I flew back here, I arrived in the morning, I looked at the news and I found that he won the MVP of the Combine. At that point, we thought, well, maybe we can’t get him anymore,” Cone said.

#WATCH: “I REALLY LIKE THIS KID”

Tim Cone sees big potential in Sonny Estil—here’s why Ginebra picked him 🏀

📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times#PBADraft pic.twitter.com/7VcCrqP4Qa

— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) September 7, 2025

“We just think he is a kid with a lot of potential. He’s athletic, he runs the floor well, and he gets to the basket.”

Cone admitted he was surprised Estil was still available at No. 11.

“He’s got good size for his position, which is important, and we just felt that he had a really high upside. It’s a great story — a guy coming from nowhere and ending up a first-round pick with Ginebra. I hope it ends with a happy ending,” he added.

Estil, a product of La Salle Greenhills and later Letran, also suited up in the MPBL for the Pampanga Lanterns, signed by assistant coach Delta Pineda of Converge. His arrival is timely for Ginebra, which is looking to fill the void left by Jamie Malonzo, who recently took his talents to Japan.

Meanwhile, UAAP standout Geo Chiu went first overall to Terrafirma Dyip, while Juan Gomez de Liano landed at No. 2 with Converge FiberXers. The Blackwater Bossing completed the Top 3 by picking former Gilas Pilipinas Youth guard Dalph Panopio.

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