Uncertainties in Collegiate Basketball: More Seniors Forgo Final Year

From RK Ilagan of the San Sebastian Stags to Andrei Caracut of the De La Salle Green Archers and most recently, William Navarro of the Ateneo Blue Eagles, more collegiate standouts who are supposed to play their final year in their respective leagues, have decided to forgo their final run and join the 2021 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft.

And we shouldn't be surprised either if more will follow suit as the January 27 deadline for the draft application comes closer.

For one, there's no clear picture yet as to whether or not two of the prominent collegiate leagues in the country will be played this year due to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic. For Will Navarro who was known as the poster boy for efficiency during his stint as a Blue Eagle in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the uncertainties in the collegiate ranks is one reason why he is making the big jump. 

"The UAAP season was canceled and I am a semester away from graduating,"

But more than the uncertainties in collegiate hoops, Navarro's second reason for making this important decision is bigger than basketball.

"I want to help my family. I want my dad to come home,"

That is something that Coach Jong Uichico understands. As the current Gilas Pilipinas coach said on Saturday's episode of Bull By the Horn by Benny Benitez, "It's hard to say no because of course, it's a livelihood,"

The nine-time PBA champion coach added, "I think he's ready to join the PBA,"

We can expect more collegiate stars to join the PBA draft in the coming days as uncertainties continue to cloud the future of college basketball. 

Photo is from Manila Bulletin