UAAP Basketball: UP secures commitment from RP Youth point guard Henry Asilum

The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons have secured a commitment from Energen Pilipinas National Team member Henry Asilum, as the squad looks to improve on their near-bottom place in the standings in recent UAAP men’s seniors division basketball tournaments.   UP head coach Ricky Dandan flew out to Cebu last Saturday and left with the point guard’s commitment, according to the two parties’ Twitter sites.   “In and out of Cebu today to clinch a recruit for the Maroons #hecticday,” tweeted Dandan on Saturday.   Then on Sunday, Dandan tweeted again, “Recruit committed, got to make a roster decision very soon #Mindstrong.”   In-between, Asilum responded to inquiries from a Twitter contact, confirming that he was in fact the recruit Dandan was talking about, and that he had been promised a spot in UP’s Team A.   Dandan then tweeted Monday morning to Asilum and Asilum’s friend, saying “We are excited as well.”   The 5’6” player out of Sacred Heart School Cebu was a solid contributor on the RP Youth Under-16 squad that placed fourth in the FIBA Asia U16 Championships in Vietnam under head coach Olsen Racela.   On that squad, Asilum normed 8.25 points, 0.75 rebounds, 2.13 assists and 0.63 steals in 21 minutes of play, with a tournament-high of 14 points against the Saudi Arabia team.   In addition to Asilum, the Maroons expect to line-up several players who were prohibited from doing so in Season 74 due to injuries, namely swingman Mark Lopez, guard Mikee Reyes, and big man Raul Suyod.   A few other players will also be available for Team A as they will have completed their residency in time for Season 75, such as one-time DLSU prospect JR Gallarza and center Chris Ball, former PBA star Bong Hawkins’ nephew.   The Maroons are expected to participate in the summer Fil-Oil Flying V Preseason Tournament, while the veterans of the squad are currently active in the PBA Developmental League under the Junior Powerade Tigers banner. — RSJ, GMA News