ONE of the most prolific scorers in the MPBL is looking to make it to the PBA this season.
Judel Fuentes is part of the 128 players who applied for the PBA Season 50 Draft set on September 7 at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.
Now in his fourth year in the MPBL, the 5-foot-10 Fuentes is currently the leading scorer for his current ballclub Quezon Huskers with an average of 13.3 points – even more than highly-touted players in this PBA Draft in former UAAP juniors finals MVP Ljay Gonzales and ex-NCAA MVP Will Gozum, as of this writing.
It was the same thing in 2024 when he posted 13.9 for the Huskers, a team-high also ahead of Gonzales and Gozum, former PBA player Gab Banal, and current NLEX player Xyrus Torres.
The 26-year-old Fuentes was playing for Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines in 2023, and was the team’s second leading scorer with 12.4 behind Jaycee Marcelino, a member of the All-MPBL First Team that year.
The former Centro Escolar University standout also topscored in his first season in the MPBL with the San Juan Knights with an average of 17.6 per outing.
Fuentes has also reached at least the conference semifinals in each of his four previous seasons in the MPBL including a national finals appearance with the Huskers in 2024.
PBA ready?
Also known for his outside shooting, the Davao native is averaging 2.4 three-point makes this season, as of posting time. He also once hit seven threes during a game against Batang Kankaloo last June 7.
"Volume shooter. Very streaky," said MPBL commentator Cedelf Tupas of Fuentes. "Great mechanics on his shot and footwork. Already a veteran of many high pressure games in the MPBL. Physically, he can hold his own but can he do it in the PBA where shooting guards are bigger, that is the question."
Fuentes, Gonzales, Gozum, Vince Magbuhos, Ximone Sandagon, and Joshua Yerro are among the players from the Quezon Huskers who applied for the PBA draft.
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