AFTER helping bring San Beda back to the top of the NCAA, Jomel Puno was already expected to take the next step.
With talks of a professional stint surrounding his name, the two-time NCAA champion had a decision to make - chase the next chapter of his career or return for another run in Mendiola.
In the end, the pull of finishing what he started became stronger.
Puno is back in the San Beda fold, ready to anchor the Red Lions’ title-defense campaign in Season 102 after choosing to spend his final collegiate year with the team that welcomed him when he first arrived in the Philippines.
“When I first came out here in the Philippines, that’s all I knew - San Beda,” Puno shared to Spin.ph.
“They welcomed me as a family.”
The decision, however, did not come overnight.
After the red-and-white’s championship run in Season 101, the Fil-Canadian stepped away from the game to recover - both physically and mentally - after a season filled with injuries that limited him to only a handful of appearances.
“I didn’t touch basketball. I didn’t touch weight room,” Puno recalled. “I was really just focused on being with family and stuff.”
For three months, the 6-foot-5 forward took time away before slowly rebuilding himself through rehabilitation and training, making sure he was fully ready before returning to the court.
PUNO NG ADVICES
That break also gave him time to reflect on his future.
With opportunities waiting in the professional ranks, Puno sought advice from veterans and coaches who reminded him of the value of making the most out of his collegiate chapter.
“They all told me, if they were to choose and if they still had a year, they would finish it,” he said.
“All the pros, they still wish they played college basketball here.”
And for Puno, that message hit home.
With a healthy body, a familiar system, and a San Beda team hungry to defend its crown, the choice became clear.
“I feel like I got to take advantage of this last year I had,” he said. “The team looks really strong, so I feel like we can definitely go back-to-back and finish this last year out.”
NEW PURPOSE
But Puno’s return carries more meaning than just another championship chase.
He comes back to a San Beda squad that recently lost their main man Janti Miller and his close friend and teammate Nygel Gonzales who suffered an ACL injury that will keep him sidelined for upcoming season 102.
Puno admitted that coming back after missing months of preparation was not an easy decision, knowing the work his teammates and coaches had already put in. But the same family that welcomed him years ago opened its doors once again.
“I was the one who approached everyone,” he said.
“Everyone was really welcoming to me, which I felt really nice about.”
And this time, the goal is simple: protect the crown, finish the journey, and give San Beda another season to remember.
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