Ateneo de Manila University guard Sky Jazul is expected to miss the remainder of the UAAP Season 88 Junior High School Basketball Tournament after sustaining a fractured right elbow.
Blue Eagles head coach Jeffrey Mangubat confirmed the development to Tiebreaker Times following Ateneo’s 69-96 second-round loss to defending champion University of the East on Wednesday morning at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“More than likely, yes. Pero we’ll see kasi next week baka tanggalin na yung cast niya, kaya we’ll see from there,” said Mangubat.
“Mathematically, medyo mababa na kami, but we’re just hoping that we can make the most out of our last four games and we’ll see from there.”
Jazul sustained the injury after colliding with Ian Manalo on a loose-ball dive in the first quarter of Ateneo’s 85-61 defeat to league-leading National University Nazareth School last October 26 at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Before the unfortunate setback, Jazul was the tournament’s leading scorer and third-best three-point shooter. He averaged 22.63 points on a 38.3-percent clip from beyond the arc, along with 5.63 rebounds, 2.75 steals, and 1.75 assists through eight games.
The son of Letran legend and former Gilas Pilipinas stalwart RJ Jazul also ranked seventh in the MVP race at the end of the first round with 78.286 statistical points.
“Currently we lost 27 points — usually ‘yon yung average niya. Malinaw yung hole na naiwan niya, but kanina, kami kasi yung may problema dahil sa turnovers. Pero pagdating kay Sky, obviously kailangan namin siya. Next man up na kami,” said Mangubat.
“May 15 players pa kami. Anyone from them. Next man up lang kami. Bawat isa may importance naman.”
Following recovery and rehabilitation, Jazul is expected to be sidelined for around three months and could make his return to court action by early to mid-January 2026.
Despite the setback, Mangubat remains optimistic that the 15-year-old guard can rejoin the Blue Eagles’ 19-and-under roster for the Season 88 Boys’ Basketball Tournament to provide valuable support to Zane Kallos, Q Molina, YJ Lacsamana, and Jay-M Leal.
“Depende yan sa doctor, but hopefully and sana makaabot siya kung makuha siya doon. We’re hopeful pa rin,” he concluded.
