Active UAAP Players in the PBA-DL

A few reminders:

• According to UAAP rules, players are allowed in minor leagues like the PBL or the PBA-DL only if they've played at least 2 seasons for their school's Team A. 
• Playing in a minor league like the PBL or the PBA-DL first, before going to the UAAP is disallowed OR it may result in a loss of eligibility years in certain situations (ex. player was a member of a minor league team while in the NCAA)
• By contrast, the NCAA has basically said "you can all play if you want", forgoing their version of the first rule

There are four teams currently UAAP-affiliated. Players in bold and underline are currently members of their home university's Team A.

Freego Jeans

Affiliate: Adamson Falcons

Coach: Leo Austria

Players: Mike Galinato, Janus Lozada, Alex Nuyles, Jan Colina, Jerick Cañada, Jeff Morillo, Roider Cabrera, Kirk del Rosario, Eric Camson, Jayve Ferreira, Jeff Olalia, Jemuel Namucatcat, Lester Alvarez

Max Bond Super Glue Sumos

Affiliate: UST Growling Tigers

Coach: Pido Jarencio

Players: Jun Cabatu Jr., Roel Hugnatan, Jeric Fortuna, Carmelo Afuang, Clark Bautista, Rudy Lingganay, Chris Camus, Mark Benitez, Jeric Teng, Japs Cuan, Reil Cervantes, Aljon Mariano, Lei Mar Navarro, Terry Amir

Cobra Energy Drink

Affiliate: UE Red Warriors (sorta, kinda)

Coach: Lawrence Chongson

Players: Arthur Reyes, Joseph Rabaya, Kinsman Frando, Mervin Baloran, Kokoy Hermosisma, Jethro Mendoza, Paul Sanga, Ryan Raypon, John Foronda, Jeymo Eguilos, Ken Acibar, Paul Lee, Toto Bandaying

Junior Powerade Tigers

Affiliate: UP Fighting Maroons

Coach: Ricky Dandan

John Smith, Mark Anthony Jeffries, Mike Gamboa, James Martinez, Brian Ilad, Miggy Maniego, Magi Sison, Alvin Padilla, Moriah Gingerich, Carlo Gomez, Mark Juruena, Julius Wong

Nelson Beltran Takes Back His "Ex Eagle Ryan Buenafe" Comment

After inducing a heart attack on Ateneans all over, and impromptu celebrations from students from the other 7 schools of the UAAP, Philippine Star writer Nelson Beltran has gone back on his controversial statement from his article yesterday.

In a follow-up piece in today's paper, Beltran quotes Ateneo team manager Paolo Trillo, who says:

We’ve talked to Ryan the other day (Tuesday). We didn’t give him the permission to play in the D-League as we want him to concentrate with his academics

Traditionally, Ateneo De Manila University, under Coach Norman Black, has discouraged active players from playing in minor league tournaments, unless it's as a complete team.

To be honest though, it wasn't Buenafe playing for a PBA-DL team that shocked fans, but the fact that Beltran called him an "Ex Eagle". That statement came completely out of nowhere, given that Buenafe was eligible to play in the Developmental League, having been a member of Team A of Ateneo for more than two seasons. Although there have been rumors that Buenafe would be academically ineligible to play in Season 74, such rumors cannot be believed in, given the fact that grades for the second semester have not yet been released yet.

Buenafe famously promised the Ateneo community four more championships after the team won the title in Season 71. He has two more years of eligibility left.

Whoops, Chris Javier is NOT Going to UST

It all started with this box score, from a recent MBL game:

The typical reaction to it was, "Hmm, Jeric Teng...Karim Abdul...so, Kevin Ferrer really is with UST now...Camus...CHRIS JAVIER???"

Forum Crawl: 03/08/11

A look at various, as of the moment, unconfirmed bits of information, floating around the different hoops forums. If an ITEM! is marked in red, take that item with a grain of salt, or better yet, a lot of salt. 

ITEM! Ivan Ludovice, the seldom-used rookie point guard for the NU Bulldogs, has opted to return to his home school of San Beda, after a fruitless rookie year in the UAAP. He'll have to sit out a year, but come 2012, he's expected to be Baser Amer's back-up. It's no big loss for the Bulldogs though. Joseph Terso will be expected to land the starters' job, Cedric Labing-isa will probably be the main back-up, and Ray Ray Parks can handle the rock as well.

ITEM! 6'2" combo guard prospect Michael Pate is expected to land with the De La Salle Green Archers, according to posts on Archer Pride (middle, in the picture). Given DLSU's crowded backcourt and his relative lack of polish though, he might be Team-B bound for a season or two. Also in that picture, on the left, Louie Vigil, who is expected to finally graduate high school and enroll in La Salle.


ITEM! UST has Jeric Fortuna and Robin Tan to man the point guard spot for the Growling Tigers next season, but they're not content yet. They're also slated to add Jamil Sheriff, a 6'1" 5'9" Fil-Canadian point guard that will sort of give height at that position (the former two players are only about 5'6" each). Check out the video below to see how Sheriff looks like:

"Young ace leads Blackwater" - Philippine Star

As previously mentioned, Joshua Saret has left the UP Fighting Maroons for the PBA-DL Blackwater Elite. He's featured in today's Philippine Star, but if you were going by the article alone, you'd probably get the feeling that this kid never donned a maroon jersey.

Whether or not that's a good thing would depend on how you felt about his abrupt stint with UP, or if you're okay with high school stars opting out of college to get paid.

The PBA-DL Claims Joshua Saret

With a 17 year old age minimum, it has been said that the PBA-DL might entice less academically enthused high school stars into skipping the collegiate leagues altogether and begin earning a living professionally. Such a system would also be advantageous for players who come from poor backgrounds and who really, really need the money for one reason or another. Thus, it was only a matter of time before someone would decide to take that route.

Apparently, that time has come.

Former JRU Light Bomber and UP Maroon Joshua Saret has opted to give up his UAAP eligibility and play exclusively for the PBA-DL. Saret, who is best-known for scoring 83 points in the NCAA Jrs. division, has signed with the Blackwater team, according to an article in today's Philippine Star.

Under UAAP rules, a player must play two seasons under Team A for a university before being allowed to play in minor leagues. Failure to do so renders you ineligible to play for any university in the UAAP. 

There is still an outside chance that Saret can still play for an NCAA team. Under NCAA rules, a player must only establish a single year's residency to play in a minor league.

Will other players follow Saret's lead? It will certainly be something to keep tabs on in the future.