Out of 86 players qualified for the 2021 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft, five former Far Eastern University (FEU) cagers namely Ken Holmqvist, Alec Stockton, Joel Lee Yu, Kimlee Bayquin, and Jeson Delfinado were selected last March 15.

The draft’s 36th edition was held through a virtual ceremony. As reported by Rappler, a record of 65 players were picked which broke the previous record of 54 drafted players back in 2015.

Holmqvist, who was part of the 2015 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) championship of the Tamaraws, was drafted by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings as the 12th pick of the first round. 

The 25-year-old center is one of the two new additions for the Gin Kings in the upcoming season of the league.

On the other hand, after foregoing his final playing year for the UAAP, the six-foot-one defensive guard Stockton was selected as the ninth pick in the second round by Alaska Aces. 

Another green-and-gold product, Lee Yu was picked by the TNT Tropang Giga as the 45th overall pick.

Bayquin was called as the third pick of the fifth round by Blackwater Bossing. Delfinado, who was part of the Tamaraws in UAAP seasons 76 to 79, was also drafted by Blackwater as the 56th overall pick.

Both Bayquin and Delfinado will be reunited with former Tamaraws and current Blackwater head coach Nash Racela.

With Holmqvist, Stockton, Lee Yu, Bayquin, and Delfinado set to make their debut in the professional league, FEU remains to be one of the collegiate teams that produce great talents in PBA as mentioned by Spin.ph.

The PBA moved its initial plan to start the Philippine Cup from April 11 to 18 due to the spike of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases within the National Capital Region (NCR).

-Aimerose C. Atienza

(LEFT TO RIGHT: File photos from Jocas D. Lozada/FEU Advocate, Novelyn Kaye Y. Contratista/FEU Advocate, Zyron Bumatay/FEU Media Center, and Andrea Joy C. Gonzales/FEU Advocate)