For former Colegio de San Juan de Letran big man Jeo Ambohot, there's no doubt the current crop of graduating Knights are already ripe to show their wares on a bigger stage — the professional ranks.
Letran has four graduating players in Fran Yu, Brent Paraiso, King Caralipio, and Tommy Olivario. Louie Sangalang, meanwhile, still has one playing year left, though the big man is geared towards making the leap to the PBA.
Ambohot would not say whom he believes is most ready for the jump - but he thinks that the veterans giving the Muralla squad a title in their final season could be crucial for when they apply for the pros.
"'Di ko masasabi 'yun pero nasa kanila ‘yun kung sisipagan nila or lalo na kapag naipa-champion nila. Siguro madaming interesado (na PBA teams), lalo pag mag-champion," Ambohot said when he watched his old Letran team pull off a 69-50 win over San Sebastian on Sunday.
"‘Yung mga graduating, sila Fran, si King, si Tommy, lahat naman meron eh ‘yun nga lang kung pano nila dalhin. So mas tataas ‘yung opportunity nila kung mag champion sila."
And Yu knows this well, which makes the all-around guard motivated to punctuate his collegiate stint with a title as this could dictate his draft stock.
"Ayan din 'yung laging nire-remind sa amin ni coach na 'pag hindi kami nakapag-champion dito, hindi namin alam kung nasan kami," Yu said.
"Kasi ayun nga 'yung tinitignan lagi ng mga coaches doon sa PBA, kung sino 'yung mga naglalaro sa main stage at kung sino 'yung mga makakapag-deliver."
—JMB, GMA News
