In the UAAP or NCAA, it is not rare to see high school standouts play for a different school when they enter college. We also experience seeing college players who transferred to a different school either from the same league or another. Everyone has their own reasons for moving, but the one thing that is common is the desire to be in the best position possible to play and to win.
Here’s a list of La Salle high school and college players who made the move and are currently in the active roster of this collegiate basketball season.
Though we know that there are other players worth mentioning, we limited this list to those who represented La Salle in high school or college in the UAAP or NCAA.
Jeric Fortuna (UST) – Prior to become the lead point guard for the Growling Tigers, Jeric was a mainstay for De La Salle Zobel and was part of the 2007 UAAP juniors championship team.
Ritchie Villaruz (SBC) – He was part of last year’s La Salle Greenhills team that made an amazing run to the NCAA juniors finals, incidentally against San Beda. He is now a Red Lion and was part of that “Super 6” group that scored a big win in their initial game this season.
Arvie Bringas (FEU) – He played one year for the Green Archers in 2009 before transferring to FEU. He is making his Tamaraw debut this season.
Gwyne Capacio (ADMU) – He was a two-time juniors mythical team member while playing for the Junior Archers. He won a title with DLSZ in 2007 and just last year, with ADMU in the seniors division.
Isaac Lim (ADMU) – He was the starting point guard for DLSZ last season. Though he was not heavily-recruited after high school, the Blue Eagles’ coaching staff was impressed with him during tryouts that they gave him a spot in this year’s UAAP team.
Nico Salva (ADMU) – He was from La Salle Greenhills from elementary to 2nd year high school before transferring to San Beda. He is now aiming to become part of an elite group to win 5-straight UAAP senior’s basketball titles.
Nico Elorde (ADMU) – A UAAP juniors champion and one-time mythical team member with DLSZ, he played one season with the Green Archers in 2010 before deciding to move to Ateneo the following year. He is now the second point guard in the Blue Eagles’ rotation and will be relied upon for his defense.
Gab Banal (MIT) – He played two seasons for the Green Archers (2009-2010) before moving over to his father’s alma mater. He is currently averaging 10 points and 3.5 assists for the Cardinals.
Mark De Guzman (NU) – From La Salle Greenhills, he went to CSB and played for the Blazers for two years before transferring to NU. He is making his UAAP debut this season.
Angelo Montecastro (UP) – Went to La Salle Greenhills before finishing his high school with San Beda. He then played for the CSB Blazers for a couple of years then went to UP. He is now in his second year with the Fighting Maroons.
Joel Tolentino (CSB) – After 2 seasons with the Green Archers, Joel crossed Taft Ave and is now part of a resurgent St. Benilde team. He is currently the Blazers’ second leading scorer, averaging 11points per game. Not only is he still in a green and white uniform, he is still a La Sallian.
In the coming seasons, we will most likely see former Green Archers Joseph Marata and Dan Sara play for UP and San Beda respectively. It is actually a homecoming for them as they both played for their high school teams.
Related Article: We Were Archers (2008)