RYAN Buenafe has applied for the PBA rookie draft after ending his checkered collegiate career with the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP.
Buenafe applied for the draft on Thursday, joining a long list of college players who immediately jumped to the pros after seeing action in Season 76 of the UAAP that includes RR Garcia of Far Eastern University and Jeric Teng of University of Santo Tomas.
FEU star Terrence Romeo is also mulling joining the draft as of posting time.
Another Ateneo stalwart, JP Erram, also applied for the draft, joining consensus top pick overall Greg Slaughter, Nico Salva, and Buenafe among the former Blue Eagles stars in a talented draft pool.
Buenafe was a key player in the Blue Eagles’ title run, winning four titles from 2008 to 2010 and in 2012. He won the Finals Most Valuable Player award in 2010 when Ateneo captured the crown at the expense of Far Eastern University in the Finals.
The small forward rounded out his five-year UAAP career by averaging 11.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.3 assists for the Blue Eagles in Season 76, where the team failed to make the Final Four.
Buenafe, who had also won titles with San Sebastian high school in the NCAA, is looking to join his cousin Ronjay in the PBA. Ronjay, a former Emilio Aguinaldo College star, is currently playing with Barako Bull.
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