Phoenix Fuel Masters target “big man” with No. 2 pick in 2025 PBA Rookie Draft

The 2025 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft is just four days away, with 128 hopefuls set to be evaluated by league franchises ahead of the historic 50th season.

The Phoenix Fuel Masters enter the Rookie Draft holding the No. 2 overall pick, and new head coach Willy Wilson knows exactly which area his team must address ahead of the league’s golden anniversary.

Wilson admitted that the Fuel Masters plan to take advantage of the second overall pick by selecting a center/forward who can contribute on both offense and defense, while also providing backup to veteran Jason Perkins and Kai Ballungay.

“I would say priority number one is a true center, somebody who can hold his own down low without requiring a double team or help defense. Primary would be a true center,” Wilson said in a media interaction.

The 45-year-old acknowledged that Phoenix already has plenty of options on the wing, with Ken Tuffin, Ricci Rivero, Matthew Daves, Sean Manganti, Raffy Verano, Jjay Alejandro, and new signing Francis Escandor all competing for starting spots.

New Phoenix head coach Willy Wilson says the team is prioritizing a “true center” with its No. 2 pick in the upcoming PBA Draft, but he remains open to picking the “best available talent.”

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“At the 6-2 and 6-4 height, 2, 3, maybe a tweener between 3 and 4, we have that. A backup point guard that could complement what we have been receiving from Tyler Tio and RR Garcia—I think that would be secondary,” he added.

Wilson was recently promoted to Phoenix’s head coach after long-time mentor Jamike Jarin transitioned into a team consultant role. The Fuel Masters are coming off a dismal Season 49, where they failed to qualify for the playoffs in all three conferences and finished with a disappointing 8–25 record.

It will be intriguing to see how Wilson performs in his first conference as head coach as he oversees the team’s rebuild.

The 2025 PBA Rookie Draft takes place on Sunday, September 7, at the Mall of Asia Music Hall. Before that, the PBA Draft Combine is scheduled for September 4 and 5 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City, offering coaches and scouts one last chance to evaluate the nation’s top prospects.

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