By: Dominic Adrian Veloso
Colegio de San Juan de Letran lost the commitment of two key recruits as it builds toward defending its title in the NCAA Season 102 Juniors Basketball Tournament.
Jolo Pascual and Ethan Oraa have decommitted from the Squires and are now set to join an already-stacked National University Nazareth School Bullpups roster in the highly competitive UAAP boys’ basketball landscape.
The duo, alongside former University of the East teammates Eoin Braga, Mhico Abellar, Bench Copada, and Ethan Aguas, initially transferred to the NCAA, reuniting with former head coach Andrew Estrella at Letran last June.
However, due to unforeseen circumstances, Pascual and Oraa, along with Gab Delos Reyes, will instead don the NUNS colors in the UAAP Season 90 Boys’ Basketball Tournament.
“We’re very excited to begin this new chapter with NUNS. We also know that we joined a team na contender talaga since we’ve competed against them before. Also, the reason why we’re even more excited para sa mga opportunities and challenges ahead, and we’re looking forward to what the future has in store for us.” Pascual told Tiebreaker Times on Friday afternoon.
After learning the ropes of UAAP basketball under Estrella and Karl Santos and eventually representing the Philippines under the tutelage of LA Tenorio, Pascual, and Oraa will now be guided by one of the country’s most promising youth coaches, Kevin de Castro.
As the duo undergoes their residency period this Season 89, the 17-year-old guard from Pampanga, Pascual, revealed that they will use the time to fully understand the fundamentals of De Castro’s system with the Bullpups—a foundation that has produced three consecutive runner-up finishes from Seasons 86 to 88.
In Season 88, Pascual averaged 5.29 points, 1.29 rebounds, 1.29 assists, and 0.64 steals per game.
Meanwhile, Oraa teamed up with Pascual in guiding the Junior Warriors to the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Basketball championship, helping end UE’s 39-year basketball title drought in the league.
“We chose NUNS because we really believed sa system and sa plan that they presented to us. Sa simula palang, they made us feel that they had a clear vision for our development, both as players and as individuals. They are committed to helping us improve, compete at a high level, and achieve our goals, which gave us confidence that NUNS is the right place for us para sa new journey namin,” Pascual added.
Completing the Bullpups’ current recruiting class is Mav Mesina, a 5-foot-9 guard from Malabon who also played a pivotal role in the Squires’ Season 101 championship campaign.
Before joining Letran, Mesina first suited up for the Junior Warriors, where he helped UE capture the Season 87 Junior High School championship.
Unlike Pascual and Oraa, Mesina will be eligible to play this Season 89, joining a backcourt led by Shaun Lucido and Mot Matias.
