Remember when people thought BJ Manalo's transfer from Ateneo High School to De La Salle University was the ultimate betrayal?
Mason Amos says "Hold my beer."
I hate how collegiate careers went from school loyalty to pro-ball free agency practice. While yeah, I get why SJ Belangel's take on social media about the Amos move, I think Belangel and most international stars gave this move a different twist.
SJ Belangel, like most straight-to-KBL or Japan B-League players, made the move to turn pro in this manner so they could find basketball success during their prime years.
If you check out the 2024 NBA Draft, this is the reality the Philippine basketball top dogs can't figure out.
1 | ATL | ZACCHARIE RISACHER | 19 YEARS OLD (APR 2005)
2 | WASH | ALEX SARR | 19 YEARS OLD (APR 2005)
3 | HOU | REED SHEPPARD | 20 YEARS OLD (JUN 2004)
4 | SAS | STEPHON CASTLE | 19 YEARS OLD (NOV 2004)
5 | DET | RON HOLLAND | 18 YEARS OLD (JUL 2005)
6 | CHAR | TIDJANE SALAUN | 18 YEARS OLD (AUG 2005)
7 | PORT | DONOVAN CLINGAN | 20 YEARS OLD (FEB 2004)
8 | SAS (TRADED TO MINN) | ROB DILLINGHAM | 19 YEARS OLD (JAN 2005)
9 | MEM | ZACH EDEY | 22 YEARS OLD (MAY 2002)
10 | UTAH | CODY WILLIAMS | 19 YEARS OLD (NOV 2004)
Check out their ages.
And then understand the fact that Stephen Holt, the top pick of the 2023 PBA Draft, is already 32 years old. The international ballers have the right to play in the PBA when their days as imports are over, but the kids should stay as kids in their college careers. Belangel, who had back-to-back titles with Ateneo during his run with the squad, was already 23 when he moved to the KBL. Zach Edey was snubbed by the first seven teams in the NBA draft because of his age... and he's only 22.
Mason Amos is about to turn 20 this year. And while it's understandable for him to sacrifice one UAAP season since he's also part of Gilas Pilipinas, I rather see him turn pro in some Asian league.
Furthermore, why is he loyal to DLSU all of a sudden? I am not saying that DLSU is a bad school, but he came from Ateneo. Even if you came from the States, we all know the beef between these two schools. Furthermore, DLSU just won a championship and has padded their team with big-time recruits.
I know SMC versus MVP is a one-sided rivalry in the PBA, but is this the same thing in college? Have the DLSU Green Archers and the Perpetual Altas upstaged the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the San Beda Red Lions with Mason Amos and Jacob Cortez as the main snags of DLSU, and the Altas attracting a lot of prospects in the NCAA.
If we're going to look at Amos' eligibility, he has three years left after his redshirt this season. Again, he has nothing to lose because he is kept busy by his Gilas duties. However, is he going back to the UAAP to either become the best player in the league or a forgotten talent, which is basically what happens when a college player joins a cast of professionals? Let's remember that Amos is there because Jamie Malonzo and Scottie Thompson are unable to participate because of their injuries.
And again, this is a PBA problem as well. By the time these players turn into PBA rookies, they are already in their mid-to-late twenties, with wear and tear possibly setting in because of their college and MPBL commitments, and the inability to improve their gameplay because of what they already learned.