Six rookies have committed to play for the defending champion Letran Knights in their coming campaign in the 99th season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
New Knights’ coach Rensy Bajar said this after confirming the decisions of Jonas Napalang, James Jumao-as, Shad Chang, Paolo Galvez, Ira Mañas, and Nathaniel Montecillo to join the Muralla-based school its bid to capture a fourth straight NCAA crown.
“Masaya kami sa mga additions na ito. Importante sa amin na may mga bata kaming handang tumulong at makipaglaban para mag-contend pa rin kami dito sa Letran,” said Bajar, who added that the five will be able to suit up in the coming season.
Napalang is a 5’11” playmaker, who was the second-leading scorer for University of the Philippines Integrated School with 16.71 points.
Jumao-as is a versatile 6-foot winger for the University of Santo Tomas in their Final Four run in in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines junior cagefest last season.
He normed 13.18 points, 4.09 boards, 1.91 assists, and 1.09 steals in 22 minutes for the Tiger Cubs.
The 18-year-old Chang is a 5’11” guard, who played as a starter in 11 of 14 games for La Salle Zobel with norms of 3.93 points, 2.5 assists, and 1.43 rebounds in 22 minutes.
The 20-year-old Galvez is a 5’10” skipper from St. Jerome School of Novaliches, discovered when he led GameChanger Novaliches to the NCR Division Finals of the Ballout Founder’s Cup.
Mañas, 18, is a 6’3” forward from Australia with averages of 9.8 points, 4.8 boards, and 1.0 steal.
Montecillo, who came from La Salle’s Team B, is a 5’10” guard, who averaged 3.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. He will play for the Knights in 2025.
Letran is looking to maintain its dynasty under Bajar, who replaced Bonnie Tan.
Veterans Kurt Reyson, Paolo Javillonar and Kobe Monje are returning to lead the Knights’ campaign.
Letran scored a three-peat when it blasted College of St. Benilde, 81-67, in Game 3 of their NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball finals in December last year.
The Knights captured the league’s first three-peat since 2018 when the San Beda Red Lions made the feat in Season 94.