The 1997 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) rookie 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 in Makati.[1]

1997 PBA draft
General information
Date(s)January 19, 1997
LocationGlorietta Activity Center, Makati
Network(s)VTV on IBC
Overview
LeaguePhilippine Basketball Association
First selectionAndy Seigle (Mobiline Cellulars)
← 1996
1998 →

Round 1

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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

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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

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The top two draft picks; Andrew John Seigle and 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

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