Colegio de San Juan de Letran got the commitments of six prospects, the majority of whom are looking to fill the shoes left by Fran Yu.
“Yung last batch, lima ang nag-graduate. Ngayon, madaming nagtra-tryout sa atin,” said new Knights head coach Rensy Bajar as Yu, Brent Paraiso, King Caralipio, Louie Sangalang, and Tommy Olivario graduated from the team.
Leading the new recruits are a couple of guards from University of the Philippines Integrated School.
Jonas Napalang is a 5-foot-11 guard who will be eligible to play in NCAA Season 99. He averaged 16.71 points, 4.29 rebounds, 3.14 assists, and 1.29 steals in UAAP Season 85.
Meanwhile, Nathan Montecillo is a 5-foot-10 guard who was part of De La Salle University’s Team B last year. He has to sit out one year before being eligible for Season 100.
The Knights also scored University of Santo Tomas’ 6-foot guard James Jumao-as, who averaged 12.5 points, 3.75 rebounds, and 1.75 steals last UAAP season.
Shad Chang of De La Salle-Zobel also committed to Letran. The 5-foot-10 guard normed 3.93 points, 2.5 assists, and 1.43 rebounds last season.
Also committing to Letran are 5-foot-10 guard Paolo Galvez out of St. Jerome School of Novaliches and 6-foot-3 forward Ira Manas, who played for Homegrown Australia in the 2023 Smart-NBTC National Finals.
“Okay naman kasi marami diyan pa-graduate pa lang pero lagi sila nag-eensayo sa amin dahil naa-adopt na nila yung sistema natin. Sana makuha nila kaagad yung sistema namin dahil madami din sa Team B din namin dati ang nagste-step up sa atin,” said Bajar about his new recruits.