Every aspiring basketball player who enters the PBA Draft Combine dreams of catching the eye of a coach. Most of the attention usually goes to the well-known names, those with decorated college careers or big reputations. But sometimes, it’s the lesser-known players who end up stealing the spotlight. This was exactly what happened to Sonny Estil and Mario Barasi, two relatively quiet prospects who managed to win over Tim Cone, the legendary coach of Barangay Ginebra.

For Estil, the combine was his stage to prove himself. He wasn’t a big name coming in—he had short stints with Letran during preseason and played in the MPBL with Pampanga, but nothing that screamed “future star.” Yet during the scrimmages, he delivered when it mattered most. In the championship game, he sank the winning basket and sealed the victory for his team. That moment, along with his consistent hustle and athleticism, earned him the Combine MVP award. Interestingly, Cone wasn’t even in the country during the event; he only managed to see Estil’s performance through game videos. Even so, he quickly realized that Estil had something special. Cone liked how Estil could run the floor, finish at the rim, and use his size to his advantage. By the time Ginebra made their first-round pick, Cone couldn’t believe Estil was still available, calling it almost a fairytale moment for a player who started with no hype at all.

Barasi’s case was a little different. At 6-foot-7, his size alone made him stand out, but what impressed Cone was not just his height—it was the way he played his role. He didn’t need to dominate the ball to make an impact. Instead, he set strong screens, rolled to the basket effectively, and provided a steady presence inside. In a league where big men are highly valued, Barasi’s ability to blend into the system and execute the basics well was exactly what Ginebra needed. Cone noted how easily he could fit into the team’s pick-and-roll game, which made the decision to select him in the second round feel like a perfect match.

What made the stories of Estil and Barasi so striking is that they prove the true value of the Draft Combine. It’s not just an event to showcase the obvious stars; it’s also a place where hidden talents get their chance to shine. Estil showed that perseverance and seizing the right opportunity can change the course of a career overnight. Barasi demonstrated that playing your role with discipline and intelligence can be just as important as scoring points.

In the end, both players earned Tim Cone’s trust not through reputation but through performance. Their success at the combine is a reminder that basketball rewards those who are ready when opportunity comes knocking. For Ginebra, drafting Estil and Barasi was more than just filling roster spots—it was about taking a chance on potential, and believing that sometimes the biggest surprises can become the most valuable pieces of the puzzle.