UE star Pasaol still uncertain over future

The eerie aura of the looming PBA Draft has surrounded Alvin Pasaol ever since the middle part of the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament.

University of the East was eliminated from Final Four contention with still several games left to spare in its schedule and the idea of Pasaol signing up for the 2018 Draft immediately sprang up.

Pasaol himself said he was mulling a move to the professional ranks that early and that stand still lasted until the end of the Red Warriors’ season on Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Red Warriors lost to National University, 79-71, in their final game and Pasaol said he’s still thinking of submitting his application to the PBA, whose deadline for potential rookies is on Dec. 3.

“I’m still thinking about, I still have more than a week to decide,” said Pasaol in Filipino.

Pasaol still has a couple more years of collegiate eligibility if he plans to stay with UE but his consistent 20-point, 10-rebound games have seen his stock go up by each passing contest.

UE head coach Joe Silva said that Pasaol is a sure asset for this year’s draft class.

“He’s deserves to be a first-round pick,” said Silva of his star, who put up 20 points, 14 rebounds, and four steals in what could be his final game with the Red Warriors.

Although Pasaol tore the UAAP up, his team hasn’t.

UE ended the season at 1-13, the worst record among the eight teams, but Pasaol didn’t mind the poor record and instead focused on the years he played wearing the school’s colors.

“It’s been a roller coaster experience for me because I never imagined that this would happen to us,” said Pasaol. “I left UE fighting and the heart is still there. We went out fighting, my teammates and I left it all on the court.”

“If this really is my last year then I would like to thank everyone because they’ve always expected too highly of me and I always made sure that I would give my hundred percent.”