NATIONAL U is getting a big boost for its wing position with the addition of Jhonlee Melano.
Coach Jeff Napa welcomed the arrival of the 6-foot-3 forward, securing his move after his one-year run with University of Santo Tomas in the high school level.
The Aloran, Misamis Occidental native was one of the top performers for the Tiger Cubs in averaging 14.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 assist in the UAAP Season 88 boys' basketball tournament.
He hiked it up in the 2026 Smart-NBTC National Finals presented by SM, where UST finished as runner-up behind his 15.7 points, 3.7 boards, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 steals en route to being named as a member of the Division 1 Mythical Team.
Next in line
The two-way wing's game is reminiscent of former blue-and-gold stalwart Jolo Manansala, the 6-foot-4, long-limbed talent who spent the last five years banging bodies inside, hitting shots from outside, and bringing effort and energy at both ends for the Bulldogs.
READ: Manansala, Quezon eager to turn heartbreaks to breakthroughs together
Melano will be eligible to play for NU come UAAP Season 90, with all five playing years intact.
There, he will have a chance to team up with homegrown players Mac Alfanta and Kurl Figueroa to backstop Reinhard Jumamoy.
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