Two days before his high school graduation, Lebron Jhames Daep received the blessing he had long hoped for.
The 18-year-old big man from Legazpi City, Albay, was officially cleared by University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Vice President for Sports and Athletics Anton Tamayo to transfer to De La Salle University for college, Monday at the school’s office in Las Pinas.
Anton is a proud alumnus of De La Salle-Zobel, along with his eight siblings.
“We’re truly grateful to our fellow Lasallians for the warm welcome. All the Tamayo kids spent their high school years at De La Salle Zobel, including VP Anton himself,” said Green Archers head coach Topex Robinson.
Standing at 6-foot-7, Daep is widely considered the most prized product of Perpetual High School.
In NCAA Season 100, he led the Junior Altas to their first-ever basketball championship in the Grand Old League, earning both the regular season and Finals MVP honors — a feat last accomplished in the NCAA back in 2010.
However, like many NCAA MVPs in recent years — including Season 99 MVP Amiel Acido, also from Perpetual — Daep decided to take his talents to the larger stage of the UAAP for college.
Several of his teammates, including Jan Roluna, JD Pagulayan, TJ Tabbuan, Jericho Cristino, Kelsey Baldoria, Jacob dela Cruz, and Aries Borja, chose to stay at Perpetual for their collegiate careers.
Anton, a former Altas standout himself, gave Robinson a heartfelt reminder about Daep’s next chapter.
“He reminded us to take care of Lebron—not just as a player, but as family—and to make Perpetual proud for producing someone who could become a cornerstone of La Salle’s future.”
Daep officially left Perpetual on March 9 to join La Salle and has already seen action in several preseason games for the Green Archers.
He will receive his high school diploma on Wednesday.
