# 1997 PBA draft

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Player selection in Philippine basketball

1997 PBA draft General information Date January 19, 1997 Location Glorietta Activity Center, Makati Network VTV on IBC Overview League Philippine Basketball Association First selection Andy Seigle (Mobiline Cellulars) ← 1996 1998 →

The **[1997](/source/1997_PBA_season) [Philippine Basketball Association](/source/Philippine_Basketball_Association) (PBA) [rookie draft](/source/Philippine_Basketball_Association_draft)** was an event at which teams drafted players from the amateur ranks. The annual rookie draft was held on January 19, 1997, at the [Glorietta Mall](/source/Glorietta) in [Makati](/source/Makati).[1]

## Round 1

Pick Player Country of origin* PBA team College 1 Andrew John Seigle United States Mobiline Cellulars New Orleans 2 Nicholas Belasco United States Pop Cola Bottlers Notre Dame-Maryland 3 Jason Webb Philippines Sta. Lucia Realtors De La Salle 4 Ernesto Ballesteros Philippines Formula Shell Zoom Masters UST 5 Lowell Briones Philippines Purefoods Corned Beef Cowboys Visayas 6 Gabby Cui Philippines Sta. Lucia Realtors Ateneo de Manila 7 Edward Naron Philippines Gordon's Gin Boars Visayas 8 Angelo David Philippines Sta. Lucia Realtors FEU

## Round 2

Pick Player Country of origin* PBA team College 9 Tonyboy Espinosa Philippines Mobiline Cellulars De La Salle 10 Romulo Marata Philippines Pop Cola Bottlers Adamson 11 Ronilo Padilla Philippines San Miguel Beermen Cebu 12 Freche Ang Philippines Purefoods Corned Beef Cowboys Saint La Salle 13 Jay Mendoza Philippines Formula Shell Zoom Masters Mapua 14 Manuel Ortega, Jr. Philippines Gordon's Gin Boars SLU

## Notes

The top two draft picks; [Andrew John Seigle](/source/Andy_Seigle) and [Nic Belasco](/source/Nic_Belasco) were born outside the Philippines. It was the first time in league history that a pure-born Filipino player was not chosen as the overall top pick.[2][3]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [14 rookie PBA pros picked](http://www.oocities.org/colosseum/9225/970120a.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Seigle going up against PBA giants](http://www.oocities.org/colosseum/9225/970203a.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Pop Cola's Fil-Am recruit also fails to impress in tuneup game](http://www.oocities.org/colosseum/9225/970205b.html)

v t e 1997 PBA season 1997 draft 1997 All-Filipino Cup (finals) 1997 Commissioner's Cup (finals) 1997 Governors' Cup (finals) All-Star Weekend Team seasons Alaska Milkmen Formula Shell Zoom Masters Gordon's Gin Boars Mobiline Phone Pals Pop Cola Sizzlers Purefoods Carne Norte Beefies San Miguel Beermen Sta. Lucia Realtors Succession 1996 Seasons 1998 1996 All-Filipino Cup 1998 1996 Commissioner's Cup 1998 1996 Governors' Cup 1998

v t e Philippine Basketball Association draft PBA draft combine 1980s 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990s 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000s 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010s 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020s S46 S47 S48 S49 S50 Expansion draft 1990 2000 2014

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