Puno faces uncertain future

Alta Sports14 hours ago · 67 views

Photo: NCAA

By Raymond Reyes

Jomel Puno has previously bid goodbye to San Beda University as he forgoes his final year of eligibility in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

But have the Red Lions really seen the last of the 6-foot-5 athletic wingman?

A vital cog in San Beda’s championship run in the Season 101 men’s basketball tournament, Puno has already expressed his desire to turn professional and is now even part of the Gilas Pilipinas men's national 3x3 team pool.

“For now, it’s only 3x3 with Gilas. I love it here,” said the Filipino-Canadian, who previously suited up for Team Pasay in the FIBA 3x3 Manila Challenger.

According to Puno, his decision to leave San Beda was driven by his desire to help his body recover as he enters the next step of his career, with the two-time NCAA champion previously missing a chunk of the Red Lions’ campaign in the past two seasons due to injuries.

“I’ve been with San Beda for a few years now, and over the last two years, I’ve been dealing with injuries. But we ended on a good note, we won the championship. But now that I’m reaching that point where I want to take the next step, I want to prioritize rehab and preparation,” he said.

While he remained vague about his plans aside from Gilas 3x3, insiders familiar with Puno’s situation confirmed that he is part of the San Juan Knights pool for the 2025-26 season of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), although he is not signed to an official contract just yet.

The reason, shared by the insiders, is that Puno is still weighing his options on returning to San Beda. They said the Red Lions’ top management and main backers are also set to meet with Puno again in hopes of convincing him to stay for their title-retention bid in Season 102.

“Puno and his agents will be meeting with Manny Pangilinan. They are okay with him turning professional, but they are just hoping that Jomel can still change his mind,” said the insider.

Puno himself confirmed that he is still enrolled at San Beda and is also focused on finishing his collegiate education whether he returns to play for one more year or not.

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