PBA Finally Locks Down Rule on No. 1 Pick Trades

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by Lou Reyes

Former Ateneo big man Geo Chiu (center) poses for a photo op after being selected as the No. 1 pick in the recent PBA Draft.
Former Ateneo big man Geo Chiu (center) poses for a photo op after being selected as the No. 1 pick in the recent PBA Draft. Photo: PBA Images.

After years of fan backlash and questionable wheeling-and-dealing, the PBA board has finally drawn the line: starting this season, the No. 1 overall pick cannot be traded for his first two full years in the league.

The landmark rule was approved earlier this month and circulated to all teams via memorandum, effectively changing the way front offices handle their top rookie selections.

And the first draftee to fall under the new policy? Geo Chiu, the 6-foot-10 big man taken first overall by Terrafirma in the Season 50 draft. For better or worse, Dyip fans can rest easy knowing Chiu will stay put for Seasons 50 and 51—no midseason “player swaps,” no sudden fire sales.

This move comes as a direct response to a pattern that had left supporters frustrated, if not disillusioned. The PBA’s top overall pick had become less of a franchise cornerstone and more of a trade chip in recent years. Just look at the history:

  • Stephen Holt, taken first by Terrafirma in Season 48, was shipped to Ginebra before the following season even tipped off.

  • Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Blackwater’s top choice in 2022, lasted only four months before being moved to NLEX.

  • Joshua Munzon, the No. 1 in Season 46, was dealt by Terrafirma midway through his second season to NorthPort.

Each case triggered debates on whether certain franchises were “developing” talent only to send them packing—often to powerhouse teams.

Now, the new safeguard forces teams to hold onto their prized selections long enough for fans to at least see the potential unfold on the court. For young stars, it offers much-needed stability, and for the league, it restores some credibility to a draft system that had been under constant scrutiny.

Geo Chiu.
Geo Chiu. Photo: UAAP.

Will this end the controversies surrounding lopsided deals? Not entirely. But it’s a firm first step toward protecting the value of the draft and the integrity of the league.

For Terrafirma and Geo Chiu, the spotlight is on. With no escape clause in sight, both sides will have to make this partnership work—at least for the next two seasons.

And maybe, just maybe, this is the start of rookies truly becoming the face of their franchises, not bargaining chips for someone else’s title run.