Greenies standout Macalalag commits to La Salle

De La Salle University’s senior basketball program added another blue-chip recruit with the commitment of La Salle Green Hills standout Jan Clement “Jcee” Macalalag, which was confirmed by Green Archers head coach Derrick Pumaren to Rappler on Thursday, July 29.

Macalalag, who stands at 6-foot-1 and plays the forward position, is 18-years-old and will have five years of playing eligibility, Pumaren said.

“He loves to attack the basket,” the head coach described his new player’s skillset. “He can create and set up his teammates. He can make things happen for us.”

Highlights show that Macalalag also has the ability to knock down mid-range jumpers. His combination of agility, explosiveness, and ball-handling make him the ideal kind of player for Pumaren to play in his patented fast-paced, press-oriented system.

Macalalag, a Lumban, Laguna native, participated in the Junior NBA Asia program, just like former Green Archers star Aljun Melecio. 

In the 2019 NCAA juniors basketball season, LSGH finished as the fourth seed with a 10-8 record, falling to San Beda-Rizal in the Final Four.

Macalalag, who once scored 34 points in a PSBL matchup, joins an impressive recruiting haul for De La Salle University. 

Pumaren and his staff have also successfully recruited the likes of Penny Estacio, Jared Abadam, Isaiah Hontiveros, Aaron Buensalida, Raven Cortez, Kevin Quiambao, Deschon Watson, Michael Phillips, and Benjamin Phillips.

DLSU also beefed up with former San Beda Red Lion Evan Nelle and former UST Growling Tiger Mark Nonoy, both of whom are expected to take over the starting guard roles left behind by Melecio and former team captain Andrei Caracut, who are now both in the PBA.

La Salle also has a new foreign student-athlete recruit in 6-foot-9 Nigerian Bright Nwankwo.

Pumaren, however, has made it clear that each player in his pool will have to earn a spot in DLSU’s final roster for whenever the UAAP basketball tournament returns. – Rappler.com