Adrian Nocum marks steady rise with first PBA All-Star nod

MANILA, Philippines – Adrian Nocum has gone from an under-the-radar prospect to one of the most exciting young stars of the PBA. 

And his first All-Star nod serves as validation to his steady rise just over two years since Rain or Shine selected him as the 24th overall pick of the 2023 draft. 

“I never expected that I would reach this point because I was just a role player when I was in college,” said Nocum, who is part of the North All-Stars captained by Barangay Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar and coached by San Miguel’s Leo Austria. 

The 26-year-old product of Mapua joined the draft with hardly any fanfare as the 2023 class featured several top talents in Stephen Holt, Christian David, Zavier Lucero, Schonny Winston, and Ricci Rivero.

But coach Yeng Guiao and the Elasto Painters already had their eyes on Nocum, hoping other teams would pass on him so they could snag the pride of Tondo, Manila, at the end of the second round. 

Guiao had seen glimpses of brilliance from Nocum during his time with the Cardinals in the NCAA and with the San Juan Knights in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, where he earned Rookie of the Year honors.

“He had qualities that we felt fit with our team. He had toughness, he was naturally athletic and quick, he had slashing abilities, and he was also a good defender,” said Guiao. 

“We saw weaknesses in his game, including his decision-making, perhaps because he was still young then. His outside shot was also inconsistent. But we thought those were things that we [could] improve on.”

It did not take long for Nocum to make his presence felt as he averaged 12.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.0 steal in the 2024 Philippine Cup — his second conference in the PBA — to help the Elasto Painters return to the semifinals for the first time in five years.

Nocum and Rain or Shine also reached the final four in each of the three conferences of the 2024-25 season, where he ended up as the Elasto Painters’ highest local scorer with an average of 13.7 points to go with 3.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.1 steals in 59 games played.

His relentless drives to the basket and his aerial artistry have drawn Nocum comparisons with PBA legends Vergel Meneses and Samboy Lim, icons who endeared themselves to fans with their high-flying exploits.

And just like Meneses, who won league MVP in 1995, Guiao believes Nocum has what it takes to capture the highest individual honor in the PBA.

“Very early in his career, he has already shown star potential. I tell him that [he] can be an MVP as long as he improves his outside shooting. And it is not an exaggeration,” said Guiao, who coached Meneses and another league MVP in two-time winner Willie Miller. 

“He will go a long way. This is just his first All-Star appearance; there will be many more.”

For Nocum, he is simply grateful to have been put in the right situation that allows him to thrive, under the guidance of a coach known for unearthing hidden gems, as he knows there are plenty of promising players who never had the opportunity to showcase their wares.

It all worked out for Nocum, whose decision to leave Mapua prematurely and pursue a professional career led him to Rain or Shine.

“There are many great players all over the Philippines, some even more talented than I am. I’m just really grateful to the Lord. I prayed for this. This is meant for me,” said Nocum. 

“I still had two years left in college. I decided not to finish it, and I entered the draft. Everything just lined up perfectly.”

With so many great things going for him, Nocum hopes a PBA championship would be next as the Elasto Painters seek a return to glory, having not won a title since 2016.

“Of course, I want to become a champion. I’ve never won a championship in my entire basketball career,” he said. – Rappler.com