With teammate and frontcourt buddy Zachy Huang already making his commitment to the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, the question boils down to: where will Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) juniors MVP Janjan Jaboneta of the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Magis Eagles play college ball?
The bull-strong, hyper-athletic forward hinted in an exclusive interview with Cebu Daily News that he just might end up with the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons.
“I really want to prioritize my education. Of course, ganahan sad gyud ko muduwa pero number one priority gyud ang good education,” said Jaboneta, who added another trophy to his growing collection when he was named as the Most Outstanding Player of the Cebu leg of the National Basketball Training Center tournament last Sunday.
The 6-foot forward has been a hot prospect since he made the Mythical Five of the NBTC National Finals last year as a junior. He solidified his standing as the south’s best young player when he led the Magis Eagles to a second straight championship in the Cesafi juniors tournament, bagging the Most Valuable Player award in the process.
According to sources within the school, also hot on the heels of Jaboneta is the University of the East. However, the same source said that UP team manager Dan Palami has already signified his intention to recruit Jaboneta.
Should Jaboneta end up at Diliman, he will be joining a Maroons squad in search of brighter days after finishing Season 77 with a lone win against 13 losses.
UP has two Cebuanos in their fold in former Ateneo de Cebu guard Henry Asilum and ex-University of the Visayas wingman Paul Desiderio, himself a former Cesafi juniors MVP.