Mark Belmonte has made his decision.
The 6-foot-6 forward has committed to transfer to Colegio de San Juan de Letran, finalizing his choice on Monday morning.
Belmonte admitted it was a tough decision, as several major NCAA programs had expressed interest in him. Ultimately, it was the vision of Knights head coach Allen Ricardo for his development that tipped the scales.
“Out of all the schools that courted me, I chose Letran because I felt it was the best place for me to grow — not just as a player, but as a person. The coaching staff made me feel valued and trusted,” Belmonte told Tiebreaker Times.
“They believed in my potential and gave me a clear vision of how I fit into their system.”
For Ricardo, securing Belmonte was crucial, especially with the impending graduation of Kevin Santos.
(C) Allen Ricardo
“We have to prepare early for the possible exit of Kevin Santos after Season 102, which is why alignment is so important now. We will recruit based on the needs of the program,” Ricardo said.
During his three years with the University of the Philippines, Belmonte showcased flashes of his potential. Last season, the 21-year-old native of Calumpit, Bulacan, averaged 2.82 points and 1.94 rebounds across 17 games, highlighted by a 12-point outing on September 21.
Looking ahead, Belmonte has ambitious goals with Letran.
“With Letran, my goals are both personal and team-oriented. Personally, I want to become a more complete player — more consistent, disciplined, and reliable in big moments,” said Belmonte, who will sit out one year before becoming eligible in NCAA Season 103.
“I want to maximize my potential and prove what I’m capable of. As for the team, the goal, of course, is to compete for a championship.”
Before moving to this new chapter, Belmonte expressed heartfelt gratitude to Coach Goldwin Monteverde and the UP community for the three years he spent with the Maroons.
“I’m very grateful to Coach Gold and UP for the three years I spent there. Coach Gold trusted me, challenged me, and helped me grow — not just as a player, but as a person. He pushed me to be more disciplined, accountable, and mentally tough. Those lessons will stay with me for the rest of my career,” he said.
“Being part of UP was an honor. Representing the Maroons and playing in the UAAP taught me what it means to compete at a high level and to play for something bigger than yourself. The experience, the culture, and the relationships I built there will always be special to me.”
