The De La Salle University Green Archers continue to reload in preparation for its UAAP Season 79 campaign as Julian Sargent will play out his final year of eligibility.
Julian Sargent, the second overall pick in the 2015 PBA D-League draft, was conspicuously absent in the lineup of the AMA Online Education Titans in its Foundation Cup campaign. After the UAAP scrapped the proposal of decreasing the age limit to 24 and removing the seven year window for a student-athelte, Sargent, 25, is still eligible to play for the UAAP.
Sunday afternoon, the 6’3″ defensive specialist was present on the bench of the Green Archers during the team’s tilt against old NCAA rivals Letran Knights. According to La Salle head coach Aldin Ayo, Sargent will be back in Taft Avenue in saying, “Yes, babalik si Julian.”
After serving a two year residency, Sargent for the Green Archers in their UAAP Season 77 and 78 campaigns. In 22 UAAP games played, the small forward posted averages of 5.6 points on 41.4 percent shooting clip, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.5 steals per game. However, the lanky wingman only played ten games a year ago due to a nagging hamstring injury.
Julian Sargent only played 3 games for the AMA Titans before being dropped by the team (PBA Images)
Sargent played three games for the Titans in their Aspirants Cup campaign and averaged 10 points per outing. However, the Fil-Am’s injury issues forced AMA to drop him from the team.
Even with a loaded backcourt, Ayo believes that Sargent’s ability to defend multiple positions and ball-handling ability is a welcome addition to an already deep squad. Just like Jason Perkins, Sargent still needs to earn his spot in the team’s 16-man UAAP lineup according to Ayo.
“Matagal pa naman yung UAAP but he has to earn his spot. They just have to work hard sa practice and makikita naman namin if deserve nila [yung spot],” Ayo told Tiebreaker Times.
Both Perkins and Sargent can no longer be plugged in the Green Archers lineup for the 2016 FilOil Flying V Premier Cup as the tournament is already in its quarterfinals stage.
