With the NCAA Season 96 Juniors Basketball season not pushing through, San Beda’s Migs Pascual has already decided where he will go to college.
The 5-foot-11 guard has committed to joining University of the East.
Head coach Jack Santiago and Pascual himself confirmed the development to Tiebreaker Times.
One of the main reasons Pascual joined UE was his familiarity with assistant coach Jamike Jarin.
“I met coach Jamike po before Batang Gilas, and he was the one who invited me to tryout for the national team. Kaya medyo familiar na rin po kami sa isa’t isa,” said Pascual.
It also helped that his dad Edmon knows Santiago as well.
“With coach Jack Santiago naman po, na ku kuwento siya sakin lagi ng daddy ko na he’s one of the point guards ng Mapua during his time. As a point guard, I really want to learn a lot from him,” shared Pascual.
“Sobrang taas po ng respeto ko with coach Jack Santiago and Coach Jamike Jarin because both of them are elite college coaches.”
Pascual, 19, will be a steady presence for the rebuilding Red Warriors.
The Red Cub was part of the Gilas Youth team that competed in the 2017 Under-16 SEABA Championship and the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup.
In the World Cup, he posted norms of 2.3 points and 1.3 rebounds per contest.
During his Grade 11 year in San Beda Taytay, Pascual normed 1.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.
He was supposed to be the Red Cubs’ skipper for Season 96.
Pascual gets to be that for the young UE team.
“Lahat ng experience ko with them, gagamitin ko para maka contribute sa team — lalo na rebuilding team kami,” said Pascual.
“Hindi magiging madali lahat. It’s a process, day by day. Alam ko naman tutulungan ako ng mga coaches ko and teammates to be a better player and a better person.”
In UE, he gets to reunite with King Alcantara while forming a backcourt that will also have Kyle Paranada.