MANILA – Ilonggo guard Julian Mavrick Puerto will have another opportunity to show his wares in Manila. He is set to join the reigning NCAA champions Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights.
According to Vincent Conlu of the Bingbong Basketball Center, the Iloilo City native got the nod of Knights head coach Bonnie Tan following a try-out in the Intramuros-based campus.
“Julian was invited by Letran for a try-out. Coach Bonnie was impressed. He is a big guard who has the ability to rebound,” Conlu said in an interview with Panay News on Tuesday.
Conlu added that the former Hua Siong College of Iloilo standout will have his debut for the Knights in the upcoming FilOil Flying V Pre-Season tournament later this year.
Puerto was impressive during his stint with Hua Siong that he was recruited by then University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers head coach Aldin Ayo for UST’s high school squad.
Puerto, however, was unable to play for UST Tiger Cubs due to the cancellation of the UAAP season due to coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Ayo’s departure from UST also left the Ilonggo guard without a school.
“He was supposed to just stay here in Iloilo City, he was in fact enrolled at Central Philippine University until the try-out invite from Letran came,” Conlu said.
“I am thankful to coach Bonnie and Letran for giving Julian this opportunity. He will surely show to Letran that they did not make a mistake of giving him a chance, he added.
Puerto was the second product of the Iloilo City-based BBC to be recruited to play in Manila after forward Cedrick Manzano, who is entering his second year with the Adamson University Falcons in UAAP.
Puerto will also be the second former Hua Siong basketball cager to don the Letran jersey after Negrense John Paul Calvo, who is now with Terrafirma Dyip in the PBA./PN
