Kean Baclaan has made a tough decision on where he is headed to for college.
The 19-year-old playmaker has decided that he will not enroll at University of Santo Tomas and will instead go to National University on Sunday evening.
Baclaan shared to Tiebreaker Times that it was a tough decision but the opportunity to grow as a point guard is better with the Bulldogs.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa opportunity po na makapaglaro sa UST. Pero nung bago po ang enrollment, napaisip po ako kung saan po ako mas mag-grow po as a player,” Baclaan told Tiebreaker Times.
“Nung kinunsulta ko po ang parents ko, nakita nila na mas maganda po ang opportunity po sa NU po kasi wala po silang point guard.”
Baclaan was spectacular for the Growling Tigers during the preseason tournaments.
In the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup, the 5-foot-8 guard out of UST High posted norms of 16.2 points, 5.4 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in nine games played.
(C) PBA Images
Meanwhile, he averaged 4.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.2 steals in five games played in the 2022 Filoil Ecooil Preseason Cup.
Baclaan though missed UST’s last game in the Preseason Cup four days ago that saw them lose to Letran, 81-77.
“Opo, siyempre pinagisipan ko rin po mag-stay sa UST,” he continued. “Kaya po the past week po, talagang gabi-gabi po kami naguusap ng parents ko kung mag-stay po ba ako or mag-enroll na po sa ibang school po.”
With the Bulldogs, Baclaan will be one of the lead guards of the team along with former UST-commit LA Casinillo.
The arrival of the two will be a welcome addition to NU as it lost Reyland Torres and Janjan Felicilda to University of the Philippines during the off-season.
Both Baclaan and Casinillo will have five years of eligibility and will be ready to play starting UAAP Season 85.
And Baclaan is excited for what lies ahead.
“Mixed emotions po ang nararamdaman ko. Siyempre po, nakakalungkot kasi madami na rin po ako naging kaibigan sa Tigers at sa UST. Pero now po na nagka-live na po sa classes at sa laro po, ngayon lang po talaga ako nakita ng other schools. At the same time, excited din po ako sa bagong challenge po na haharapin ko po sa NU.”
