REIGNING UAAP champions National University scored a big-time recruit after Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu’s prized forward Joshua Sinclair gave his commitment to join the Bulldogs in the UAAP.
Sinclair, a lanky 6-foot-3 Filipino-Australian forward with tight handles, range that goes all the way out to the three-point arc and a mean streak on the boards, gave his commitment to NU after his father, Rob, officially met with school and team officials led by head coach Eric Altamirano.
Joshua Sinclair of Ateneo de Cebu shoots over UV defenders in this 2014 photo of a Cesafi juniors game. Sinclair will be playing for National University in the UAAP next year.
CDN file
NU beat out a host of other schools for Sinclair’s services, notably Ateneo de Cebu’s sister school, Ateneo de Manila, La Salle, who Sinclair practiced with for an entire weekend earlier this year, and the University of the Philippines.
“I just think NU has it all figured out. They have a very good basketball program. Plus they have the course that I’m very interested in taking, journalism,” said Sinclair in an exclusive talk with Cebu Daily News. Sinclair started to gain nationwide attention after leading Ateneo de Cebu to the Seaoil-National Basketball Training Center title with a rousing 82-78 win over NCAA rulers San Beda in the finals earlier this year.
He was also named the MVP of the aforementioned tournament.
Sinclair vowed to make the most out of the opportunity to improve his skills in time for the UAAP wars next season.
“I have one-and-a-half years to get ready for the UAAP season. I’ll be going into it twice the player I am now. I’ll make sure of it. I have shooting, dribbling, adjusting to college, working on my body and a whole lot of other things to improve on. It’s only up from here,” Sinclair said.
Sinclair, who teamed up with current UP Fighting Maroons Janjan Jaboneta to win the Cesafi juniors title last year, also took the time to thank his soon-to-be former school.
“Even though I’m leaving physically, I’ll always have this school in my mind and in my heart. I know that sounds cheesy, but it’s the truth.”