San Beda University's bid to reclaim the NCAA men's basketball championship was dealt a huge blow as shifty guard Tony Ynot has decided to leave the Red Lions' den after two years in the seniors ranks.
San Beda team manager Jude Roque confirmed the news to GMA Integrated News on Monday, just hours after the shifty guard formally bade the school goodbye.
"Yes. Nagpaalam na [siya] kanina," Roque said in a message.
According to Roque, Ynot's reason for leaving is that he intends to play in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), which is a professional league and is set to open a new regular season next month.
Ynot, a product of San Beda juniors program, has been a key piece in San Beda's system, averaging 4.75 points, 3.67 rebounds, and 0.5 assists during his rookie campaign in Season 97 before developing into a more crucial player for the Mendiola crew in his sophomore year as he posted averages of 9.06 markers, 5.44 boards, 2.33 dimes, 0.56 steals, and 0.39 blocks in Season 98.
But San Beda failed to make it to the championship round in those two years, reaching only the Final Four rounds as rival Colegio de San Juan de Letran ruled both occasions to complete a three-peat.
Ynot's absence is tipped to leave a huge void, especially after top scorers JB Bahio and James Kwekuteye already moved on from college. Still, San Beda respects the decision of the young player.
"The reason he gave was that he wanted to play in the MPBL," Roque added. "It's his decision and we respect it."
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
