Daep to spread his wings wider, higher at La Salle?

MANILA, Philippines — Teen sensation Lebron Jhames Daep debuted as the newest Green Archer just hours after committing collegiate play for UAAP powerhouse La Salle from his high school alma mater Perpetual in the NCAA.

Wasting no time, Daep tallied four points and three rebounds in La Salle’s emphatic 65-47 win over Adamson in the opener of the 2025 Filoil Preseason Cup last Monday at the Playtime Filoil Centre in San Juan.

The 6-foot-7 Daep played only 15 minutes, slowly but surely integrating himself to the system of La Salle mentor Topex Robinson for his coming first collegiate season after an illustrious high school run with Perpetual.

Robinson, hours before the game, himself formally welcomed Daep during a commitment turnover meeting with University of Perpetual Help System Dalta vice president for sports Anton Tamayo.

“With gratitude and pride, we celebrate this milestone with Lebron and remain confident that he will carry the Perpetual legacy with honor and heart,” said Perpetual in a statement.

Daep, an Albay pride, is coming off a historic high school stint with the Junior Altas, claiming both the NCAA Season 100 MVP and Finals MVP honors.

He registered averages of 13.0 points, 11.6 rebounds and 2.6 steals in the finals as Perpetual trounced St. Benilde in Game 3, 101-67, to deliver the school’s first-ever basketball title – either in juniors or seniors play – since joining the league in 1984.

Throughout the season, he tallied norms of 15.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 1.3 assists and 1.0 block to also make the Mythical and Defensive Teams while becoming the second straight Season MVP for the Junior Altas after Amiel Acido last season.

Daep, only behind La Salle’s Kieffer Alas in the NBTC national high school rankings, also replicated the feat of San Beda’s Baser Amer as winner of both the season MVP and Finals MVP of the NCAA in 2010.

And with La Salle, he’s about to spread his wings wider and higher at a perfect time of filling the forward position left by two-time MVP Kevin Quiambao, who’s now in the Japan B. League with the Goyang Sono Skygunners.

It will also help that Daep will be under the wings of Robinson, a former teammate of his dad Rommel during San Sebastian’s dynastic reign of five straight seasons in the NCAA in the 1990s.

Daep served as the team captain in the Golden Stags’ last two titles of their five-peat.

Now, Robinson gets to mentor the second-generation Daep as La Salle ushers in a new era without Quiambao and seeks redemption after bowing to University of the Philippines in Season 87.