I have been thinking about things for some time now.
If you look at the 2023 PBA Draft (or Season 48 if you're going to be a prude about it,) NCAA late picks have had better exposure than some UAAP picks.
Yes, Zavier Lucero and Schonny Winston are turning into all-stars. Also, perhaps the only reason why Brandon Bates and Ken Tuffin's careers have digressed is because the conference is an import-laden one. But for first-rounders like Luis Villegas, BJ Andrade, and Richie Rodger, their numbers aren't as good as third-rounder Kim Aurin, fourth-rounders Tommy Olivario, Fran Yu, and King Caralipio, and even fifth-rounders Damie Cuntapay and John Amores.
Again, we see Amores as a wasted talent because he was able to create his niche in Northport. Now I don't know if this is going to stick after the shooting incident, but the former JRU Heavy Bomber averaged 5.1 points and 1.5 rebounds in ten games for the Batang Pier while Villegas had 2.2 points and 1.2 rebounds for Rain or Shine.
The NCAA second-rounders are even better than the UAAP second-rounders, with Bryan Santos, Henry Galinato, Raffy Verano, Ralph Cu, and Ricci Rivero going up against Kemark Carino, Enoch Valdez, JL Delos Santos, Louie Sangalang, James Kwekuteye, and Adrian Nocum. The 2024 PBA Draft is a squash for UAAP, with the NCAA scoring just three draft picks in the first two rounds, but it's not like the rookie batch is that strong.
Why am I talking about the PBA when this is a college blog?
Because there are hints of the future with the way most teams are playing.
Again, I will do this with the simple stats categories without any bonus points for wins and losses. After all, this is the college leagues we are talking about - one altercation means automatic awards disqualification.
Game. Starts. Now.
STATS (AS OF OCTOBER 3, 2024)
1 | KEVIN QUIAMBAO | UAAP
DLSU GREEN ARCHERS
STATS | 15.8PPG - 8.7RPG - 5.8APG - 1.3SPG
2 | MO KONATEH | UAAP
FEU TAMARAWS
STATS | 9.2PPG - 17.0RPG - 1.0APG - 1.2SPG - 2.0BPG
3 | ALLEN LIWAG | NCAA
BENILDE BLAZERS
STATS | 13.9PPG - 13.4RPG - 2.7APG - 1.0BPG
4 | JIMBOY ESTRADA | NCAA
LETRAN KNIGHTS
STATS | 15.6PPG - 8.3RPG - 4.8APG - 1.1BPG
5 | RAFAEL ARE | NCAA
SAN SEBASTIAN GOLDEN STAGS
STATS | 17.5PPG - 4.9RPG - 4.6APG - 2.8SPG
6 | MIKE PHILLIPS | UAAP
DLSU GREEN ARCHERS
STATS | 11.0PPG - 12.2RPG - 2.2APG - 1.7SPG - 1.0BPG
7 | CLINT ESCAMIS | NCAA
MAPUA CARDINALS
STATS | 17.3PPG - 3.9RPG - 4.5APG - 2.3SPG
8 | PRECIOUS MOMOWEI | UAAP
UE RED WARRIORS
STATS | 11.2PPG - 13.7RPG - 2.2APG - 1.0BPG
9 | JOHN BARBA | NCAA
LPU PIRATES
STATS | 19.4PPG - 6.4RPG - 2.5APG
10 | TONY YNOT | NCAA
BENILDE BLAZERS
STATS | 13.0PPG - 6.7RPG - 4.7APG - 1.6SPG
11 | JD CAGULANGAN | UAAP
UP FIGHTING MAROONS
STATS | 13.4PPG - 4.4RPG - 6.0APG - 1.0SPG
12 | MARK GOJO CRUZ | NCAA
PERPETUAL ALTAS
STATS | 14.3PPG - 5.3RPG - 2.5APG - 1.3SPG - 0.8BPG
13 | KING GURTIZA | NCAA
EAC GENERALS
STATS | 15.4PPG - 4.6RPG - 2.9APG - 0.9SPG
14 | T-MC ONGOTAN | NCAA
ARELLANO CHIEFS
STATS | 12.4PPG - 5.3RPG - 2.5APG - 2.0SPG
15 | MO TOUNKARA | UAAP
UST GROWLING TIGERS
STATS | 12.8PPG - 7.2RPG - 1.2APG - 0.8SPG - 0.7BPG
16 | RAYMART ESCOBIDO | NCAA
SAN SEBASTIAN GOLDEN STAGS
STATS | 13.9PPG - 4.3RPG - 2.1APG - 1.8SPG
17 | JOSHUA GUIAB | NCAA
JRU HEAVY BOMBERS
STATS | 13.9PPG - 5.1RPG - 2.4APG - 0.9SPG
18 | MAC GUADANA | NCAA
LPU PIRATES
STATS | 15.3PPG - 3.9RPG - 2.0APG - 1.0SPG
19 | FORTHSKY PADRIGAO | UAAP
UST GROWLING TIGERS
STATS | 8.3PPG - 3.8RPG - 6.5APG - 1.0SPG
20 | TRISTAN FELEBRICO | NCAA
SAN SEBASTIAN GOLDEN STAGS
STATS | 10.4PPG - 7.8RPG - 1.8APG - 1.1SPG
21 | BRYAN SAJONIA | NCAA
SAN BEDA RED LIONS
STATS | 13.9PPG - 4.6RPG - 2.0APG
22 | YUKIEN ANDRADA | NCAA
SAN BEDA RED LIONS
STATS | 13.1PPG - 6.7RPG - 1.0APG
23 | JOMEL PUNO | NCAA
SAN BEDA RED LIONS
STATS | 12.7PPG - 7.1RPG - 1.0APG - 0.7SPG
24 | VINCENT CUNANAN | NCAA
LPU PIRATES
STATS | 7.3PPG - 4.3RPG - 4.9APG - 1.9SPG
25 | MARVIN RAYMUNDO | NCAA
JRU HEAVY BOMBERS
STATS | 10.3PPG - 5.7RPG - 1.9APG - 1.3SPG
Look, I came from the UST educational program, so let me get this fact out there before you hate me further.
I don't know if the NCAA competition is weaker than the UAAP. I don't know if the defense is easier or the offense is tougher for both leagues. Maybe the UAAP has a better system as compared to the NCAA.
I have an obvious reason inside my head, but I'll reserve this for later.
BEST TEAM PLAYERS WHO NEVER MADE THE CUT
30 | JAKE FIGEROA | UAAP
NU BULLDOGS
STATS | 10.0PPG - 6.0RPG - 2.3APG - 0.8SPG
31 | CEDRICK MANZANO | UAAP
ADAMSON SOARING FALCONS
STATS | 7.8PPG - 7.7RPG - 1.7APG - 1.3BPG
35 | JOSHUA LAZARO | UAAP
NU BULLDOGS
STATS | 10.3PPG - 7.0RPG - 1.7APG
TEAM LEADERS
NCAA | POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS |
BENILDE | LIWAG | 13.9 | LIWAG | 13.4 | YNOT | 4.7 |
MAPUA | ESCAMIS | 17.3 | HUBILLA | 5.5 | ESCAMIS | 4.5 |
LETRAN | ESTRADA | 15.6 | ESTRADA | 8.3 | ESTRADA | 4.8 |
SAN BEDA | SAJONIA | 13.9 | PUNO | 7.1 | SAJONIA | 2.0 |
LPU | BARBA | 19.4 | BARBA | 6.4 | CUNANAN | 4.9 |
PERPETUAL | GOJO CRUZ | 14.3 | BORAL | 5.5 | ORGO | 3.3 |
EAC | GURTIZA | 15.4 | OFTANA | 5.7 | OCHAVO / LUCERO | 4.0 |
JRU | ARGENTE | 14.6 | RAYMUNDO | 5.7 | PANAPANAAN | 2.9 |
ARELLANO | ONGOTAN | 12.4 | HERNAL | 6.4 | ONGOTAN | 2.5 |
SSC-R | ARE | 17.5 | FELEBRICO | 7.8 | ARE | 4.6 |
UAAP | POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS |
UP | CAGULANGAN | 13.4 | MILLORA-BROWN | 9.7 | CAGULANGAN | 6.0 |
DLSU | QUIAMBAO | 15.8 | PHILLIPS | 12.2 | QUIAMBAO | 5.8 |
UE | MOMOWEI | 11.2 | MOMOWEI | 13.7 | GALANG | 2.4 |
ADAMSON | MONTEBON | 10.3 | OJARIKRE | 9.5 | EROLON | 3.2 |
UST | CABANERO | 13.7 | TOUNKARA | 7.2 | PADRIGAO | 6.5 |
NU | FIGEROA | 10.0 | PALACIELO | 6.7 | ENRIQUEZ | 3.0 |
FEU | BAUTISTA | 12.5 | KONATEH | 17.0 | ALFORQUE | 2.7 |
ATENEO | TUANO | 12.2 | PORTER | 7.3 | BAHAY | 5.0 |