Breaking Down Allyn Bulanadi's PBA Draft Journey and Future Prospects

I still remember the first time I saw Allyn Bulanadi play during his collegiate days with the San Sebastian Stags. There was this raw energy about him—the way he moved without the ball, that quick release on his jumper, that hunger in his defensive stance. Fast forward to today, and we're talking about a young man whose PBA draft journey represents one of the more intriguing stories coming into this year's selection process. Breaking down Allyn Bulanadi's PBA Draft journey and future prospects isn't just about analyzing stats; it's about understanding how a player develops when given the right opportunities and facing the right challenges.

Bulanadi's path hasn't been straightforward. After his stint in the MPBL and PBA D-League, where he averaged around 16.8 points per game in his final D-League conference, he entered the PBA draft in 2021. The Alaska Aces selected him 10th overall—a pick that felt right given his scoring potential. But then came the injuries, the adjustment period, and just as he was finding his footing, the Aces announced they were leaving the league. Talk about bad timing. I've followed many players' careers, and this kind of organizational shift can really derail a young athlete's development. The uncertainty, the need to reprove yourself to a new franchise—it takes a mental toll that we as fans often underestimate.

Now here's where it gets interesting. With TNT's current situation, Bulanadi might find himself with unexpected opportunities. Let's be real—TNT has been hit with an injury bug over the last several months beginning with Jayson Castro sustaining a season-ending injury in his right patellar tendon during the Commissioner's Cup last February. When your veteran leader and primary playmaker goes down, it creates a vacuum that needs filling. This is where a player like Bulanadi could potentially step up, provided he's given the chance. I've always believed that injuries, while unfortunate for those affected, open doors for others to show what they're made of. Remember when CJ Perez got more minutes because of injuries at Terrafirma? Sometimes that's all a young player needs—consistent minutes to build confidence.

What impresses me most about Bulanadi isn't just his scoring ability—though his three-point shooting has improved to what I'd estimate at around 38% based on recent practice footage—but his basketball IQ. He doesn't just hunt shots; he moves within the offensive system. During Alaska's final conference, he showed flashes of being that reliable third option who could explode for 15-20 points when defenses focused elsewhere. The question now is whether he can translate that to TNT's system, which relies heavily on spacing and quick decisions.

I had a conversation with a scout friend of mine recently who put it perfectly: "Bulanadi's ceiling isn't about physical tools—it's about opportunity and fit." In today's PBA, where teams are leaning toward positionless basketball, a wing who can shoot, defend multiple positions, and make smart cuts is incredibly valuable. At 6'2", he's not the tallest wing out there, but his wingspan and defensive instincts allow him to play bigger than his height. I've noticed he's gotten stronger too—probably added about 5-7 pounds of muscle since his rookie year, which should help him finish through contact better.

The reality is that breaking down Allyn Bulanadi's PBA Draft journey and future prospects requires looking beyond the box scores. His development trajectory reminds me somewhat of RR Pogoy's early years—not in terms of playing style necessarily, but in how they both needed time to adjust from being primary scorers in college to finding their role in the pros. Pogoy had the benefit of stability within the TNT system, something Bulanadi is still searching for after the Alaska-TNT transition.

Personally, I'm bullish on his prospects. The PBA needs more reliable local scorers, especially with the league's trend toward having stronger imports each conference. Bulanadi has that scorer's mentality—the kind that doesn't shy away from big moments. I remember watching him hit that game-winner back in the D-League against Marinerong Pilipino—cold-blooded. That's not something you can teach. If TNT gives him consistent 15-20 minutes per game next season, I wouldn't be surprised to see him average 8-10 points while providing solid perimeter defense.

Of course, there are areas he needs to work on. His ball-handling against pressure needs improvement—he had 2.1 turnovers per 36 minutes last season, which is a bit high for a wing player. And he needs to become more consistent with his mid-range game. But these are coachable things. What you can't coach is that innate scoring instinct, which he clearly has.

As we look toward the upcoming season, Bulanadi represents one of those intriguing "what if" stories that make following player development so fascinating. With TNT's championship pedigree and development system, he's in the right environment to maximize his potential. The key will be patience—from the coaching staff, from the fans, and from Bulanadi himself. Development isn't linear; it's filled with ups and downs. But if he continues working on his game and takes advantage of the opportunities presented by situations like TNT's injury concerns, we might be looking at one of the more pleasant surprises in the coming PBA season. Sometimes all a player needs is that second chance to show they belong—and something tells me Bulanadi is ready to make the most of his.