PBA Rookie of the Year award

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The Philippine Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year award is an annual Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) award given to the top rookie(s) of the regular season. The award was first given in 1976.

Contents

The award is decided using criteria introduced for the 2011–12 season, which include accumulated statistical points, votes from media, players and the league's Commissioner's Office.

The most recent Rookie of the Year winner is RJ Abarrientos. Twelve winners were drafted first overall (the league started its draft in the 1985 season). Six winners have also won the PBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in their careers; with Benjie Paras earning the honors the same season. Three winners have been elected to the PBA Hall of Fame.

Winners

Key
^Denotes player who is still active in the PBA
*Elected to the PBA Hall of Fame
DP #Draft pick number
DYDraft year
Ddirect hire
Rookie of the Year
SeasonPlayerPositionCountry of birthTeamSchoolDP #DY [a] Ref.
1976 Gil Cortez Center / Power forward Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Philippines Toyota Super Corollas San Beda n/an/a
1977 Jimmy Taguines Center / Power forward Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Philippines Tanduay Rhum Makers San Beda n/an/a
1978 Jimmy Manansala Shooting guard / Small forward Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Philippines Tanduay Rhum Makers UE n/an/a
1979 Arnie Tuadles Small forward Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Philippines Toyota Super Corollas UV n/an/a
1980 Willie Generalao Point guard Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Philippines Gilbey's Gin UV n/an/a
1981 Rafael Sison Shooting guard Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Philippines Presto Fun Drinks Ateneo de Davao n/an/a
1982 Marte Saldaña Point guard Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Philippines San Miguel Beermen FEU n/an/a
1983 Ricardo Brown * Point guard Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Great Taste Coffee Makers Pepperdine n/an/a
1984 Willie Pearson Shooting guard / Small forward Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Crispa Redmanizers Chaminade n/an/a
1985 Leo Austria Point guard Flag of the Philippines (light blue).svg Philippines Shell Azodrin Bugbusters Lyceum 10 1985
1986 Dondon Ampalayo Power forward Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Philippines Ginebra San Miguel USJ-R 2 1986
1987 Allan Caidic * Shooting guard Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Philippines Great Taste Coffee Makers UE 1 1987
1988 Jojo Lastimosa Shooting guard Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Philippines Purefoods Hotdogs Ateneo/USJ-R D 1988
1989 Benjie Paras * Center Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Philippines Formula Shell Zoom Masters UP Diliman 1 1989
1990 Gerry Esplana Point guard Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Philippines Presto Tivolis FEU 9 1990
1991 Eugene Quilban Point guard Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Philippines Alaska Milkmen San Sebastian 3 1991
1992 Bong Ravena Shooting guard / Small forward Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Philippines San Miguel Beermen UE 5 1992
1993 Jun Limpot Center Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Philippines Sta. Lucia Realtors De La Salle 1 1993
1994 Boybits Victoria Point guard Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Philippines Swift Mighty Meaties San Beda 3 1994
1995 Jeffrey Cariaso Shooting guard / Small forward Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Alaska Milkmen Sonoma State 6 1995
1996 Marlou Aquino Center Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg Philippines Ginebra San Miguel Adamson 1 1996
1997 Andy Seigle Center Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Mobiline Phone Pals New Orleans 1 1997
1998 Danny Ildefonso Center Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines San Miguel Beermen NU 1 1998
1999 Danny Seigle Small forward Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States San Miguel Beermen Wagner D 1999
2000 Davonn Harp Center Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Batang Red Bull Energizers Kutztown D 2000
2001 Mark Caguioa Shooting guard Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines Barangay Ginebra Kings Glendale Community College 3 2001
2002 Renren Ritualo Shooting guard Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines FedEx Express De La Salle 8 2002
2003 Jimmy Alapag Point guard Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Talk 'N Text Phone Pals Cal State San Bernardino 10 2003
2004–05 Rich Alvarez Power forward / Small forward Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Shell Turbo Chargers Ateneo 1 2004
2005–06 Larry Fonacier Shooting guard / Small forward Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines Red Bull Barako Ateneo 14 2005
2006–07 Kelly Williams ^ Power forward Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Sta. Lucia Realtors Oakland 1 2006
2007–08 Ryan Reyes Shooting guard Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Sta. Lucia Realtors Cal State Fullerton 3 2007
2008–09 Gabe Norwood ^ Small forward Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Rain or Shine Elasto Painters George Mason 1 2008
2009–10 Rico Maierhofer Power forward Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines B-Meg Derby Ace Llamados De La Salle 2 2009
2010–11 Rabeh Al-Hussaini Center Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines Petron Blaze Boosters Ateneo 2 2010
2011–12 Paul Lee ^ Point guard / Shooting guard Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines Rain or Shine Elasto Painters UE 2 2011
2012–13 Calvin Abueva ^ Small forward / Power forward Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines Alaska Aces San Sebastian 2 2012
2013–14 Greg Slaughter Center Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Ateneo 1 2013
2014–15 Stanley Pringle ^ Point guard / Shooting guard Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States GlobalPort Batang Pier Penn State 1 2014
2015–16 Chris Newsome ^ Shooting guard / Small forward Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Meralco Bolts Ateneo 4 2015
2016–17 Roger Pogoy ^ Shooting guard / Small forward Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines TNT KaTropa FEU n/a 2016
2017–18 Jason Perkins ^ Power forward Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines Phoenix Fuel Masters De La Salle 4 2017
2019 CJ Perez ^ Shooting guard / Small forward Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong Columbian Dyip Lyceum/San Sebastian 1 2018
2020 [b] Aaron Black ^ Point guard / Shooting guard Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines Meralco Bolts Ateneo 18 2019
2021 Mikey Williams Point guard / Shooting guard Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States TNT Tropang Giga Cal State Fullerton 4 2020
2022–23 Justin Arana ^ Center Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines Converge FiberXers Arellano/UST 4 2021 [1]
2023–24 Stephen Holt ^ Shooting guard / Small forward Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Terrafirma Dyip Saint Mary's 1 2023 [2]
2024–25 RJ Abarrientos ^ Point guard Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines Barangay Ginebra San Miguel FEU 3 2024 [3]

Notes

  1. The PBA draft was instituted in 1985.
  2. The 2020 season only had one conference. The award was renamed as "Outstanding Rookie" for this season.

References

  1. "Fajardo leads list of winners in PBA Leo Awards". PBA.ph. November 5, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  2. Micaller, Bea (August 18, 2024). "June Mar Fajardo wins 8th PBA MVP award". GMANetwork.com. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  3. Ballesteros, Jan (October 5, 2025). "Ginebra ace RJ Abarrientos is PBA Season 49 Rookie of the Year". One Sports. Retrieved October 5, 2025.