MANILA, Philippines – Pro players like Justine Baltazar, Sedrick Barefield, RJ Abarrientos, Dave Ildefonso, and Jonnel Policarpio are among the players that stand out in the PBA Season 49 Draft. It has been said that this draft is deep, and elite players should still be available in the second round.

Who will be this draft class’s hidden gem? These players are a few that may be sleepers in this draft.

AGEM MIRANDA – The 6-foot-1 Miranda can undoubtedly score in the collegiate ranks after scoring 31 points for Jose Rizal University in an NCAA Season 99 game the previous year. He also showed his scoring prowess when playing for Mindoro in the MPBL the previous season, averaging 14.6 points with 5.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.4 steals. He played with Jonnel Policarpio and Kurt Reyson in the PBA Draft Combine finals, going toe-to-toe with 17 points.

C.J. PAYAL – A guard with 6-foot-5 stature should most surely be overlooked by organizations. As seen by his performances in the MPBL this season, where he is averaging 10.9 points and 6.1 rebounds with University of the East and Valenzuela, CJ Payawal fits the description. The Fil-American, who has already made six threes in an MPBL game this year, can also hit from downtown.

DJ MITCHELL – Despite his lackluster performance at the Draft Combine, at least statistically, Mitchell’s 6-foot-0 stature belies his impressive outside shooting talent in the MPBL, where he made 2.3 threes per game and four twice in the regular season.

JASON BARTLETT – Additionally, Bartlett surprised everyone by capturing the Mythical Five at the PBA Draft Combine, which raised his profile. The 5-foot-10 Bartlett would be worth a look for a team looking for a point guard with versatility on both the offensive and defensive ends.

JIELO RAZON – The 5-foot-11 Razon performed like he has been in the MPBL during the PBA Draft Combine. For the Paranaque Patriots, the former Perpetual Altas averaged 11.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.6 steals. Razon might be a strong option for a squad that requires a skilled ball handler who can also make outside shots.

JOHAN UDUBA – The 6-foot-4 Uduba may be undersized for his natural position, but his ability to rebound and score on putbacks may warrant a closer examination. The Paranaque Patriots athlete, a graduate of Olivarez College, leads his squad in the MPBL with an average of 9.4 points and 9.7 rebounds.

KURT REYSON – Reyson, who went somewhat unnoticed when he entered the draft but proved his value by winning the PBA Draft Combine Mythical Five, might be a good fit for a club in need of a point guard. Reyson, who is five feet nine inches tall, had a strong season with Letran the previous year. This season, he has been playing for the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the MPBL, where he has averaged 8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists (tied with Justine Baltazar for second place), and 1.3 steals.

MARK NIEL CRUZ – The 29-year-old Cruz is already a seasoned MPBL veteran, so clubs looking for a reliable big man in this selection may want to consider him. The 6-foot-7 Cruz was one of the draftees’ best rebounders at the Combine and scored respectable amounts of points when playing with Justine Baltazar’s squad.

MIGGY CORTEZA – Despite playing power forward for College of Saint Benilde throughout his collegiate career, 6-foot-3 Corteza demonstrated his flexibility by demonstrating his ability to play the wing positions in the PBA Draft Combine. In his first two games with his new team, Marikina in the MPBL, Corteza has averaged eighteen points, seven rebounds, two assists, and 1.5 steals.

MIKE MALONZO – The 6-foot-2 Malonzo has proven he can compete by ranking fourth in the MPBL Rookie of the Year competition, behind more well-known players like LJ Gonzales and fellow PBA draft hopefuls CJ Cansino and Mark Nonoy. Playing with Jordan Bartlett and Kai Ballungay, Malonzo even led the way with 17 points during one of the PBA Draft Combine scrimmages.