On the verge of fulfilling dreams

CEBU, Philippines — Leonard “Santi” Santillan and Jun Kent Manzo made up the list of six Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) products who got picked during last Sunday’s stacked 2021 PBA Season 46 Rookie Draft. The others were Rey Mark Acuno, Joel Lee Yu, Jerie Pingoy, and Mark Olayon.

Both Santillan and Manzo first made a name while playing for the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers in the CESAFI. Santilan would later transfer to the La Salle Green Archers while Manzo shifted allegiance to the University of the Philippines (UP) Maroons in the UAAP during their collegiate years.

Santillan, a versatile 6-foot-5 forward from Lapu-Lapu City, was selected fifth overall by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

“Thanks to Rain or Shine and those who supported me. All my hard work paid off! Thank you Lord for the great blessing,” Santillan posted on his Facebook page.

Acuno, who had a short stint with the Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Cobras before hooking up with the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, pulled the biggest surprise in the league’s annual exercise after he came out as Blackwater’s second pick in the second round  and 14th overall.

Acuno and Manzo were two of the six unheralded picks for Blackwater coach Nash Racela. The Nasipit, Agusan de Norte-native Manzo was Bossing’s third pick in the fourth round and 39th overall.

“To be honest, I just feel normal because I know there’s still a next step, which is to be included in the lineup of the team (Blackwater),” said Manzo, a well-rounded playmaker. “If given the opportunity, I will give my best shot on both ends of the court each game to help my team win.”

UP coach Bo Perasol has a piece of advice for Manzo and his other former players Jaydee Tungcab and David Murrell as they move one step closer to fulfilling their PBA dreams.

“These are the men who dared to dream. Their journey is wrought with pain, joy, disappointments, and future aspirations. To get drafted is one thing, to be signed is another. The journey continues. I am confident, though, that faith is already engraved in their hearts and being - we never stop. We keep fighting!” Perasol shared.

Tungcab was the fourth pick in the Special Gilas Draft while Murrell was the eighth pick in the second round by the NLEX Road Warriors.

On the other hand, Yu, an ex-University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warrior, was chosen in the fourth round by the TNT Tropang Giga.

Olayon, who once donned the jersey of the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons, was NorthPort Batang Pier’s 12th pick in the second round, while Pingoy, who once played for the University of Cebu (UC) before becoming a two-time UAAP Juniors MVP with the Far Eastern University (FEU) Baby Tamaraws, was selected in the fifth round by the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters.