Could Barangay Ginebra’s surprise draft pick Sonny Estil be the next Cinderella story of the PBA?
Coach Tim Cone certainly hopes so. The legendary mentor couldn’t hide his excitement over the 24-year-old forward, who unexpectedly became Ginebra’s first-round selection in the Season 50 Rookie Draft.
“It’s a great story — a guy coming from nowhere and suddenly a first-round pick with Ginebra,” Cone said, beaming with pride.
From the moment Cone saw clips of Estil at the Draft Combine—sent by Ginebra assistants Olsen Racela and Jam Lipae—he knew the unheralded prospect had something special. Racela and Lipae had coached the Ginebra squad that went on to win the two-day mini-tournament, where Estil not only donned the Kings’ jersey but dominated en route to MVP honors and a spot on the Mythical Team.
“He’s got so much potential. He’s athletic, runs the floor well, gets to the basket, and has the right size for his position,” Cone explained.
Cone, then in the US during the Combine, returned just in time for draft day—only to find out that Estil’s MVP performance had made him one of the hottest names on the board. Cone feared Ginebra wouldn’t get the chance to select him at No. 9 overall.
“When I landed, I saw he’d won MVP. At that point, we thought someone might grab him earlier,” he recalled.
But fate had other plans. One by one, eight teams passed on Estil, allowing Ginebra to scoop him up and complete what felt like destiny.
“That just convinced us he was meant to be here,” Cone said. “I hope he earns his spot and becomes a really good player for us. That would be a perfect ending to a great story.”