IVAN Santos has turned his back on University of Santo Tomas and instead, will now head to Mapua.
Coach Potit de Vera confirmed that the 6-foot-6 bruiser from Bustos, Bulacan has decided to take his act to Intramuros instead of Espana.
Santos averaged 8.9 points and 4.7 rebounds in the 2019 PBA D-League Foundation Cup where TIP made it to the semifinals. He was earlier reported to be joining the Growling Tigers together with frontcourt paner Ivan Santos.
Santos will be cleared to play in NCAA Season 97 and has two more playing years left at Mapua, where he will be joined by two other former TIP players in Jopet Soriano and Marlon Navarro.
Players from TIP have found new homes following the disbandment of the school's athletic program last May at the height of the coronavirus pandemic.
Soriano is a 6-foot-3 winger who averaged 4.5 points, 1.0 rebound, and 1.0 assist, while Navarro is a 6-foot-4 forward who posted averages of 1.6 points and 4.0 boards. Both will have three more playing years left for the Cardinals.
Warren Calara, a 6-foot-5 stretch forward, has committed to La Salle.
The 19-year-old, who can still have four playing years for the Green Archers, showed immense promise after norming 7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in the developmental ranks.
Adamson has also acquired a couple of young talents from TIP, with 6-foot-2 guard Jhon Calisay and 6-foot-5 winger RV Yanes committing to the Soaring Falcons.
A third player in 6-foot-2 guard Felix Corpuz is still negotiating with the San Marcelino crew.
Ximone Sandagon has earlier committed to Far Eastern University.
Veterans GC Carurucan, Christian Daguro, Kyle Primo, meanwhile, are looking to take their act to the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) once it resumes.
De Vera is proud to see his players spread their wings elsewhere.
"I'm happy that schools see the worth from our players. I just want our players to always remember to uphold the TIP way which is doing the best that one can in becoming their best," he said.
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