CAN Far Eastern University and University of Santo Tomas keep their prized forwards?
That's the biggest question looming over the heads of the Tamaraws and the Growling Tigers, as they continue their buildup ahead of UAAP Season 89.
Cabs Cabonilas and Jhon Lee Melano remain uncommitted even after their teammates have chosen to stay put in their respective alma maters.
Cabonilas, the first-ever regular season and Finals MVP who led FEU-Diliman to the Season 88 boys basketball crown, is one of the most sought after talents today, with the 6-foot-4 forward posting 15.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game en route to being ranked by the NBTC as the top under-19 player in the Philippines.
Melano, on the other hand, broke out for UST and paced the team with 14.8 points, 5.9 boards, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 assist in the UAAP before proving instrumental in the Tiger Cubs' runner-up finish in the 2026 Smart-NBTC National Finals where the 6-foot-3 banger normed 15.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 steals to earn his place in the Mythical Team.
Both were included in the Tamaraws and Growling Tigers' rosters, respectively, in the Asiabasket NSAC College Basketball Campus Tour, but that doesn't really guarantee anything.
As one source put it, "Hangga't hindi nila sabihin na magse-stay sila, hindi tayo makakasigurado na magse-stay yan."
Updates on Cabonilas, Melano
Indeed, it's similar situations for the two, with their current schools hopeful to keep them in their camps even as other squads hotly pursue their services.
For Cabonilas, he's still weighing his options although there's no doubt he's going to be a perfect fit in the Tamaraws' frontline under coach Sean Chambers.
Insiders shared that as optimistic as they are to make the transition from high school to college a reality, signing on the dotted line is the end-all, be-all in making things final.
"Iba pa rin kasi yung 'pag tinanong mo sa sigurado na eh. Sa panahon ngayon, mahirap magsalita unless official na talaga," the source said.
Marc Burgos has already made the jump, formally committing to stay in Morayta, now bolstering a bigs rotation which features Mo Konateh and Kirby Mongcopa.
READ: Baby Tamaraws star Marc Burgos chooses to stay with FEU
Melano is much the same, as his camp is assessing its options even after already meeting with the Growling Tigers' braintrust.
"Nailatag naman yung gustong mangyari ng UST sa kanya. Baka may kumakausap rin, pero nasa kanila naman yun if gusto nilang mag-stay," the source from the black-and-gold shared.
READ: Tiger Cubs Kirk Canete, Charles Esteban commit to stay with UST
Tiger Cubs Kirk Canete and Charles Esteban have also made their decision to remain in Espana for college, continuing the pipeline from the high school program of coach Manu Inigo to the one in college with coach Pido Jarencio.
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