Fran Yu, other PBA aspirants to see action in PBA ‘On Tour’

May 20, 2023 Times Europe

FILE – Letran guard Fran Yu during Game 2 of the NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball Finals against College of St. Benilde. NCAA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Former Letran star Fran Yu and four players currently suiting up for San Beda were among those listed in the official rosters for the PBA’s “On Tour” series which starts on Sunday in Caloocan City.

Lineups released by the league on Saturday showed Yu being listed to play for NorthPort while San Beda’s Damie Cuntapay, JV Gallego, Peter Alfaro and Clifford Jopia were included by TNT for the two-month series of exhibition games.

The PBA is allowing teams to sign players who are expected to enter the Rookie Draft slated in September.

That has prompted NorthPort to tap the services of Yu, who will reunite with his former Letran coach Bonnie Tan.

Yu was a key part in Letran’s streak of three straight NCAA championships under Tan, winning Finals Most Valuable Player honors in 2019 by San Beda.

Letran also beat Mapua and College of St. Benilde during the two NCAA seasons held in 2022 due to the pandemic to complete a trifecta.

Tommy Olivario, another key part of the Letran title teams handled by Tan, was also in the NorthPort lineup for the series.

Cuntapay, Gallego, Alfaro and Jopia are seen as the main figures in San Beda’s quest to regain long glory for their final NCAA season which begins in September before their expected entry in the draft.

The four will dabble their On Tour stints with the Red Lions’ preparation for Season 99 which includes a stint in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup as Marinerong Pilipino.

Meanwhile, other teams have tapped players who suited up for their counterparts in the PBA 3×3.

One of the prominent names is Barangay Ginebra’s Kim Aurin, who played in the third conference of the halfcourt tournament’s third season.