JOAQUI Ludovice understands the enormous shoes he has to fill after committing to La Salle for college.
Seen by many as the heir apparent to Jacob Cortez once he dons the green-and-white come UAAP Season 90, the former Gilas Pilipinas Youth playmaker admitted to SPIN.ph feeling the nerves.
Still, he's already more than mature enough to embrace this golden opportunity in Taft.
"May konting pressure, pero siyempre nasa sa akin na yun kung paano ko yun lalabanan," he said.
Ludovice is just excited about this new chapter in his career, all the more as he has a year to learn under Cortez' wings before being unleashed in the seniors division in 2027.
READ: Why we won't see Gilas Youth stars Esperanza, Ludovice in UAAP 89 just yet
"Excitement talaga yung pinaka nararamdaman ko ngayon. Excited ako na makatulong sa La Salle and mas maging better player pa lalo dahil sa program nila," he said.
Ludovice in La Salle
Ludovice is indeed one of this offseason's biggest catches, with the 5-foot-9 court general largely regarded as one of the top high school players in the country.
Though he had a subpar showing in the Season 87 boys' basketball tournament, only averaging 11.5 points on 30-percent shooting, to go with 2.9 assists, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals, he did lead University of Santo Tomas to a runner-up finish in the Division 1 of the 2026 Smart-NBTC National Finals where he racked up 13.7 points on 33-percent clip from deep, alongside 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.3 steals.
Many expected him to stay put in Espana to join former teammates in Koji Buenaflor and Kirk Canete before he announced his departure from the Growling Tigers' den.
And that's because in his view, his style of play is snug a fit as it comes with the Green Archers.
"No. 1 na hinahanap ko naman talaga is yung growth and nakita ko na doon ako mas fit," he said.
Coach Topex Robinson and his run-and-gun system had a big hand in his decision, of course.
"Sinabi niya sa akin lahat ng plans niya sa akin para matulungan ako sa future ko," shared Ludovice of their conversation.
"Sobrang interested nila sa akin at pinakita talaga nila yung value ko. Maganda din yung management nila and alam ko pong matutulungan nila ako na mas marami pa akong matutunan."
Ludovice becomes the second Tiger Cub in the last three years to join La Salle after Doy Dungo went in 2024.
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