JOAQUIN Tovera's move from the University of the Philippines to La Salle may have caused a lot of broken hearts and hurt feelings in Diliman.
READ: La Salle deals UP big blow by snatching away Fil-Am guard Tovera
But with the landscape the collegiate basketball is in now, this really shouldn't come as a surprise.
Players 'decommitting' from one program to move to another isn't new, much like how student-athletes transfer from one school to another.
The only difference between the two?
'Decommits' were not enrolled before the sudden change of heart, unlike transferees who got to play at least a season before deciding to change addresses.
Truth be told, Tovera isn't the first and he certainly won't be the last.
Here, SPIN.ph lists five of the most marquee 'decommitments' in the last five years.
Jared Bahay
Bahay is top of mind when it comes to these matters.
The highly touted Cebuano guard made an early commitment to UP back in March 2023 when he was still leading the charge for Sacred Heart School-Ateneo.
With a year left to play for the Magis Eagles, the 5-foot-11 playmaker kept a close connection with the Fighting Maroons and even participated in few practices whenever he was in Manila.
And then, Bahay chose to change his next address.
In January 2024, he committed to Ateneo, citing his desire "to continue my education in another Jesuit school."
State U, in response, said "outside forces intervened" which prompted Bahay's decommitment.
Migs Palanca
UP did benefit from these sudden moves, as well, most notably when 6-7 Palanca chose to join the Fighting Maroons.
National U had its hopes up when Palanca, without hesitation, indicated that he chose to stay at the conclusion of his high school career with the Bullpups back in March 2025.
That would have meant that the Bulldogs have indeed future-proofed their frontline for coach Jeff Napa.
But three months later, tides changed and Palanca backed out of his initial commitment to enroll to UP, owing to what he believed would be a more beneficial move for his development under coach Goldwin Monteverde.
Kean Baclaan
Fresh off a scintillating showing in the juniors division, Baclaan was poised to become the point guard of the future for University of Santo Tomas.
And the flamboyant 5-8 guard showed a glimpse of just that, starring for the Growling Tigers in preseason leagues back in 2022.
Until he wasn't.
In October of the same year, the flashy shooter from Muntinlupa City crossed Espana Blvd. and chose to enroll in Jhocson with NU, forming a potent backcourt with Steve Nash Enriquez.
Baclaan would stay for his two seasons with the Bulldogs before once again making a turn, this time transferring to La Salle where he won a championship back in UAAP Season 88.
Gani Stevens
Just like Baclaan, Stevens looked like he was a keeper for UST, showing his muscle in the same preseason tournaments back in 2022.
But it took him only a month to feel the itch to move, going the way of Recto.
In August of the same year, the 6-7 banger enrolled in University of the East where he impressed in his rookie season together with one-and-done big Luis Villegas.
Alas, his stay with the Red Warriors also did not last long.
Stevens would pack his bags after the season and head to Diliman where he transferred to UP and became a part of the Season 87 championship team.
Jake Figueroa
Coming off the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of fans were excited to see what the 6-2 Figueroa could do for Adamson.
The Season 82 Juniors MVP indeed was a promising prospect, one which the Soaring Falcons viewed would be its top guy for the future - moreso as he was a homegrown product, being a Baby Falcon.
That was in February 2021.
When August of that year came, the tune has changed as Figueroa opted to move to Jhocson to join NU.
His reason was his desire to challenge himself, one which the Minalin, Pampanga native viewed could be attained under the watch of Napa.
After five years with the Bulldogs, Figueroa did earn his place in the Mythical Team back in Season 88.
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