Cooper Flag Selected #1 At The 2025 NBA Draft

Fifty-nine NBA prospects will find new homes over the course of the next two days, and at the forefront of it all was Duke forward Cooper Flagg.

The 2025 draft's presumed No. 1 pick became its actual No. 1 pick on 25 June, giving the Dallas MAvericks a new star to build around.

Is The PBA Ready To Adopt A New Drafting System?

Last year, the 2024 PBA Draft was supposed to hold a special no-order, computer-generated lottery for PBA draft applicants who would’ve been eligible to join at least four years earlier. After some speculation and planning, it did not push through. Will this be adopted this year?

According to PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, any change in format will require approval from the Board of Governors and for the moment, the guidelines for the draft remain the same as before, meaning the order will follow the reverse standings of the teams the previous season unless slots are traded.

What To Expect From The 2025 PBA Draft

The 2025 PBA Draft is expected to be loaded with talents from the collegiate league and returning players who tried their luck abroad.

Typically, the draft order is based on the teams' performance in the previous season, with the last-placed team getting the first pick. The 2025 draft will be for the PBA's 50th season. What do we know so far and how will the Meralco Bolts is expected to fare.

Bolts 97, Beermen 108

San Miguel sent Meralco packing with a 108-97 victory last 20 June at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium to advance to the semifinals of the PBA 49th Season Philippine Cup.

The SMB win assured a new all-Filipino champion will be crowned as Meralco’s title run ended almost a year to the day the Bolts beat the Beermen in six games in the finals.

San Miguel Is Motivated In Facing Meralco

The Meralco Bolts and the San Miguel Beermen are set to face in the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs once again. This is match similar to Season 48 where the two powerhouse squads are set to lock horns in the postseason. This time around, however, it will not be in the Finals but in the quarterfinals stage.

At the end of Season 49’s All-Filipino elimination round, San Miguel sits at No.1 with a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarters, while Meralco is at No.8 with a 6-5 record.