MANILA – Negrense guard Reyland Torres will continue wearing the blue and gold jerseys of the National University (NU) for college after committing his UAAP men’s seniors’ basketball career with the Bulldogs.
The Bago City, Negros Occidental-native Torres said he feels at home with the Bulldogs as he was part of NU’s Bullpups team that dominated the UAAP juniors’ basketball scene past few years.
“There are at least three University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) schools who communicated with me but I chose to commit to NU for college because panatag ‘yung loob ko dito,” Torres said in an interview with Fastbreak.
“Personally, I wanted to stay with NU rin but I also consulted my family and convinced me to commit with NU,” added Torres, whose sister Maryland plays for the track and field team of University of Santo Tomas.
The 19-year-old Torres did not entertain the thought of moving out of NU just like his fellow Bullpups Carl Tamayo and Ilonggo Gerry Abadiano, with University of the Philippines, and Kevin Quiambao, who is with De La Salle University.
“We have our own decision and I respected their decision to play elsewhere,” Torres said. “Even if we will become enemies come college time, we are still brothers outside of the basketball court.”
“I am also very much looking forward to joining the NU Bulldogs team. I am also excited to learn from coach Jeff (Napa). I know I still have a lot to learn and I am confident of doing it with coach Jeff’s guidance,” he added.
Unlike Torres, his Bullpups teammate and fellow Negrense guard Harold Alarcon is still undecided on where to play for college but admitted that he has been receiving feelers from several schools.
“I am still undecided for college,” the Silay City, Negros Occidental native Alarcon said. “There are other schools talking to me and I am taking my time to decide where I will commit.”/PN
