With the 2016 Philippine Basketball Association Draft just a few weeks away, a number of cagers from the amateur and semi-professional ranks have thrown their names into the mix.
Friday afternoon, 23-year-old Jett Manuel submitted his application to the PBA office in Pasig City, according to his manager Mel Macasaquit.
Even with this, the 6’2 guard is still focused on the current task at hand of leading the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. He vowed that he will not let his dreams of being in the PBA disrupt his current goal as the Fighting Maroons still have a shot for a coveted Final Four spot with just four games remaining in the regular season.
“That’s always going to be an option but I’m still focusing on the season,” the Engineering student-athlete said. “We still have a lot left in the tank. We’re going to work on it.”
“Life after the season, I’m always going to dream to be in the PBA.”
The King Maroon is currently posting norms of 15.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per contest. Moreover, he is shooting at a career-high clip of 42.7 percent from the field, 33 percent from downtown, and 88.5 percent from the charity stripe.
Manuel was named as the Most Improved Player during the 75th season of the UAAP before taking a two-year hiatus from the Fighting Maroons. During 2013-14, Manuel played for PBA D-League teams Junior Powerade Tigers, affiliate of former PBA franchise Powerade, and UR Value Corporation-backed Derulo Accelero Oilers.
