NU Bulldogs’ Jake Figueroa impresses overseas scouts, ‘in talks with KBL team’

STRUTTING his stuff abroad is now one of the ultimate goals for National University (NU) captain Jake Figueroa after a tough exit in his final UAAP season.

Mr. Figueroa had his last hurrah as a Bulldog over the weekend after a 78-73 loss to the De La Salle University Green Archers in the UAAP Season 88 Final Four, opening the door for the professional world as his next immediate pathway.

Mr. Figueroa dropped 20 points and 10 rebounds in Game 1, where the Bulldogs also absorbed an 87-77 defeat to waste a twice-to-beat-advantage as the No. 1 team in the eliminations against the fourth-ranked Green Archers.

It wasn’t the swan song Mr. Figueroa hoped for but his individual campaign definitely proved enough to earn the nod of some overseas scouts, including those from the Korean Basketball League (KBL).

While Mr. Figueroa kept mum about his next step and nothing is cast in stone just yet, sources said he’s in talks with a KBL team as the next Filipino import midway through the season after impressing scouts in his final season with NU despite the team’s early exit.

The PBA Draft late next year is also an option for the team captain of coach Jeff Napa’s charges.

For now, he’s savoring his last season not only as Bulldog on the court but as a graduating student-athlete in NU.

“Wala pa (plans). Gusto ko muna mag-relax,” (There are no plans yet. I want to relax first) said Jake Figueroa after an illustrious campus basketball career also marked by a UAAP juniors MVP with Adamson before his NU stint in collegiate play. — John Bryan Ulanday