RK Ilagan has made the tough decision to forego his final year in San Sebastian.
The 5-foot-7 San Sebastian lifer has bid farewell to his team as he is set to join the upcoming 2021 PBA Draft, Thursday.
And he had a change of heart for his family.
“Gusto ko na rin makatulong sa magulang ko kaya nagpasya na ko na pumasok sa draft,” Ilagan told Tiebreaker Times.
“Yung opportunity po kasi nandiyan na e.”
Ilagan, 23, was sensational in his four years with the Golden Stags.
Despite not bagging any NCAA season award nor a Player of the Week citation during that span, the native of Tondo, Manila posted spectacular per-game numbers of 12.71 points on 172-of-501 (34.33-percent) shooting from downtown and 2.79 assists in 72 games played.
In Season 95, Ilagan went supernova, averaging 15.8 points on 38.2-percent shooting from the field with 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists. Together with Allyn Bulanadi, they led the Golden Stags to a fourth place finish.
Season 95 was Ilagan’s redemption after being caught playing in a ‘ligang labas’ game in 2018 that resulted in San Sebastian forfeiting two of its first round wins. He was also suspended for the opening round.
Ilagan is forever grateful for the time he spent in San Sebastian.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa Baste dahil binigay nila yung tiwala nila sa akin mula high school hanggang college. Kung makaabot ako sa PBA, dala ko ang bawat aral na natutunan ko sa Baste.”
Though many have already declared for the draft set on March 14, Ilagan is one of the few pure point guards in the field.
