OVER the years, NCAA players have traditionally produced quality PBA players, one of whom is Scottie Thompson, who captured the MVP in 2021 for Barangay Ginebra.
A couple of players from the oldest collegiate league will look to enter the pros, and perhaps make the same impact as their predecessors after applying for the coming PBA 49th Season Draft upon their final year in the NCAA.
Leading the 17 applicants from the NCAA, 11 of which played last season, is Emilio Aguinaldo College big man JP Maguliano, who was a member of the Mythical Five in the Season 99 last year.
Paolo Hernandez of NCAA runners-up Mapua have also declared for the draft, along with Agem Miranda of Jose Rizal University, Kurt Reyson of Letran, Jade Talampas of Arellano, and Miguel Corteza of College of Saint Benilde.
Jielo Razon of Perpetual Help, Ralph Robin of EAC, Peter Alfaro of San Beda, Paolo Javillonar of Letran, and Ry Dela Rosa of JRU will also try to join the pro league.
The 6-foot-4 Maguliano averaged third in the league in scoring with 15.0 points and second in the league in rebounding with 8.6 for the Generals to earn a spot in the best five players of NCAA Season 99 as well as the All-Defensive Team.
Along with last season’s MVP Clint Escamis and Warren Bonifacio, Hernandez helped Mapua in their run to the finals in Season 99 after averaging 9.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. The 6-foot-0 Hernandez also claimed the Most Improved Player in 2021.
The 6-foot-1 Miranda led the Heavy Bombers in scoring with 13.4 and recorded the most points in a game last season with 31.
Reyson took the leadership role with the Knights last season with the 5-foot-9 guard scoring a team-high 13.5 points, and also had two championships in his name when they captured the league crown in 2021 and 2022.
Talampas led the Chiefs in scoring last season with 11.8 respectively, while Corteza placed third for the Blazers in points with 11.9.
Razon, meanwhile, had a solid showing for Perpetual Help when he posted 10.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.5 steals, while Robin finished fourth in scoring with EAC with 10.6.
Alfaro, meanwhile, played for San Beda but already got a taste of the PBA after the 5-foot-11 guard was part of the ‘On Tour’ series last year with TNT where he played alongside now-pros Cliff Jopia and Damie Cuntapay.
Javillonar, 6-foot-6, was part of the Letran squad that also captured two titles for Letran.
Dela Rosa, meanwhile, is facing the prospects of playing alongside or against his older brother Rome, who is currently with Magnolia.
Meanwhile, other NCAA players from a couple of years ago include Keith Pido of Perpetual Help, Alfren Gayosa and Ronan Santos of Arellano, Mark Neil Cruz and Jason Tan of JRU, and Adrian Partosa of CSB.
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