A record number 128 aspirants submitted their application for the 2023 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Draft 2023 on September 17, 2023. The venue of the 2023 PBA draft is at the Market! Market! Mall in Taguig City. Several high-profile names are in the mix such as 6'6 Zavier Lucero of the UP Fighting Maroons, 6'8 Robert Keith Datu Jr., 6'5 Matthew Daves, 6'8 Kemark Carino and Ricci Rivero, among others.
Notably missing in the list is Justine Baltazar who is undoubtedly one of the best bigmen, if not the best, in the Philippine Basketball scene. He is currently playing in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) where his team, the Pampanga Giant Lanterns, is leading the race to the national championship.
There are many Fil-Foreign draftees in this year's list which include potential top picks Stephen Holt, Zavier Lucero and Henry Galinato. They will compete with local talents such as Ricci Rivero, Brent Paraiso and Fran Yu.
The list is dominated by guards but there are tall players for those needing a bigman. Christian Buñag, Brandon Bates and Keith Datu all stands above 6'7, but they are still small compared to international standards. Check out below the complete list of applicants.
PBA DRAFT 2023 APPLICANTS
| Name | Position | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Franz Abuda | SF | 6'1 |
| 2. Camillus Altamirano | PG | 5'11 |
| 3. John Amores | G | 6'2 |
| 4. BJ Andrade | G | 6'1 |
| 5. Jayson Apolonio | SF | 6'2 |
| 6. Michael Are | PG | 5'9 |
| 7. Larry Arpia Jr. | G | 5'11 |
| 8. Daniel Atienza | G | 5'8 |
| 9. Kim Aurin | G | 6'1 |
| 10. JB Bahio | PF | 6'5 |
| 11. Regie Boy Basibas | PF | 6'4 |
| 12. Brandon Bates | C | 6'8 |
| 13. Johnnel Rey Bauzon | SF | 6'4 |
| 14. Dariel Bayla | F | 6'4 |
| 15. Brandrey Bienes | F | 6'3 |
| 16. Raymond Binuya | G | 5'7 |
| 17. Warren Bonifacio | PF | 6'4 |
| 18. Christian Buñag | C | 6'7 |
| 19. Justin Caganda | G | 5'9 |
| 20. Romel Calahat | F | 6'2 |
| 21. King Caralipio | G | 6'2 |
| 22. Kemark Cariño | C | 6'8 |
| 23. Krenz Nestor Carlos | G | 6'2 |
| 24. Enrique Caunan Jr. | F | 6'6 |
| 25. John Lloyd Clemente | G | 6'3 |
| 26. Archie Concepcion | G | 6'2 |
| 27. Sherwin Concepcion | PF | 6'3 |
| 28. Ammar Cosari | F | 6'5 |
| 29. Ryan Costelo | PG | 5'6 |
| 30. Luis Cu | F | 6'4 |
| 31. Jose Carlos Cullar | G | 5'10 |
| 32. Damie Cuntapay | F | 6'5 |
| 33. Robert Keith Datu Jr. | PF | 6'8 |
| 34. Matthew Daves | F | 6'4 |
| 35. Christian David | F | 6'6 |
| 36. Jonathan Del Rosario | G | 5'10 |
| 37. Jayvee Dela Cruz | G | 6'1 |
| 38. John Louise Delos Santos | G | 5'11 |
| 39. King Destacamento | F | 6'6 |
| 40. Dominick Fajardo | SF | 6'0 |
| 41. Andre Flores | F | 6'5 |
| 42. Cade Flores | F | 6'5 |
| 43. Theo Flores | G | 6'3 |
| 44. Inand Val Fornillos | F | 6'2 |
| 45. King Rodney Fuentes | F | 6'4 |
| 46. Renzo Galdo | G | 6'2 |
| 47. Henry Galinato | F | 6'6 |
| 48. Fletcher Galvez | F | 6'3 |
| 49. Michael Jeffrey Garcia | G | 6'0 |
| 50. Jaymar Gimpayan | F | 6'3 |
| 51. Francis Giussan | G | 6'2 |
| 52. John Winifred Gob II | C | 6'7 |
| 53. Joe Gomez De Liaño | G | 6'2 |
| 54. Joshua Gonzales | G | 6'3 |
| 55. John Miguel Gregg | G | 6'2 |
| 56. Marco Guzman | G | 5'9 |
| 57. Ian Joseph Herrera | C | 6'6 |
| 58. Stephen Holt | G | 6'4 |
| 59. Zachary Huang | SF | 6'2 |
| 60. Shaquille Imperial | G | 5'11 |
| 61. Shean Jackson | G | 6'2 |
| 62. Patrick Jamison | PG | 5'10 |
| 63. Krystoffe Jimenez | PG | 5'11 |
| 64. Clifford Jopia | C | 6'8 |
| 65. James Kwekuteye | G | 6'2 |
| 66. Joemari Lacastesantos | G | 6'0 |
| 67. Omar Larupay | SF | 6'2 |
| 68. Michael Lazarte | G | 5'11 |
| 69. Leon Lorenzana | SF | 6'4 |
| 70. Zavier Lucero | SF | 6'6 |
| 71. Patrick Maagdenberg | C | 6'5 |
| 72. Michael Macion | PF | 6'4 |
| 73. John Mahari | G | 6'3 |
| 74. Rapahel Mallari | PG | 5'7 |
| 75. John Troy Mallillin | F | 6'4 |
| 76. Darrel Manliguez | G | 5'8 |
| 77. Jaybie Mantilla | G | 5'8 |
| 78. Sem Maraan | G | 5'8 |
| 79. Alwin John Margallo | G | 5'10 |
| 80. Lean Martel | PF | 6'4 |
| 81. Jose Lorenzo Mendoza | G | 5'10 |
| 82. Darrell Shane Menina | PG | 5'10 |
| 83. Taylor James Miller | G | 6'2 |
| 84. Egie Boy Mojica | SF | 6'3 |
| 85. Lorenzo Navarro | G | 5'8 |
| 86. Jhan Nermal | F | 6'3 |
| 87. Adrian Nocum | SG | 6'0 |
| 88. Tommy Olivario | G | 5'9 |
| 89. Irven Palencia | PG | 5'8 |
| 90. Mico Pallares | SG | 5'11 |
| 91. Nikko Panganiban | G | 6'1 |
| 92. Brent Paraiso | G | 6'1 |
| 93. Nikko Paranada | G | 6'0 |
| 94. Frederick James Pasturan | G | 5'9 |
| 95. Rey Anthony Peralta | G | 6'2 |
| 96. Jordyn-Thomas Perez | PG | 5'11 |
| 97. Jeric James Pido | PG | 5'10 |
| 98. Reinier Quinga | F | 6'2 |
| 99. Buenaventura Raflores Jr. | F | 6'3 |
| 100. Jamel Ramos | PG | 5'8 |
| 101. Ricci Rivero | G | 6'1 |
| 102. Richard Rodger | G | 6'2 |
| 103. Alynn Dyll Roncal | SG | 6'2 |
| 104. Ivan Sanchez | G | 5'7 |
| 105. Mark Sangalang | PF | 6'4 |
| 106. Bryan Santos | PF | 6'5 |
| 107. Noel Santos | SF | 6'2 |
| 108. Jeffrey Jordan Sapinit | G | 5'10 |
| 109. Jeric Serrano | F | 6'3 |
| 110. Jan Gabriel Sobrevega | G | 5'10 |
| 111. Jessie Sumoda Jr. | C | 6'5 |
| 112. Tsutomo Tateishi | C | 6'9 |
| 113. Hero Tovilloso | F | 6'3 |
| 114. James Tremocha | G | 6'2 |
| 115. Kenneth Tuffin | F | 6'4 |
| 116. Dickson Ty | PG | 5'6 |
| 117. Reeve Ugsang | F | 6'5 |
| 118. Enoch Valdez | G | 6'2 |
| 119. Richard Velchez | PF | 6'3 |
| 120. Alfonso Ventura | F | 6'4 |
| 121. Rafael Verano | F | 6'3 |
| 122. Laurenz Victoria | G | 5'11 |
| 123. Kamron Vigan | G | 6'5 |
| 124. Kenneth Villapando | F | 6'2 |
| 125. Luis Villegas | C | 6'7 |
| 126. Deschon Winston | PG | 6'4 |
| 127. Rhinwil Yambing | F | 6'3 |
| 128. Fran Yu | G | 5'9 |