By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons aren’t done with their off-season acquisitions after securing the commitment of San Beda’s high school superstar Chris Hubilla confirmed last April 9, 2023.
It was also Hubilla who announced his arrival in the UAAP but will have to finish his senior high school education first before being eligible to wear the maroon and white jersey.
Hubilla is currently a Grade 11 student and will have one more year to finish his whole secondary education before taking up a degree at UP.
The six-foot-four big man was one of the most consistent stars during the recently concluded NCAA high school boys’ basketball tournament.
After the elimination phase, the bruiser averaged impressive stats of 20.86 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.29 assists, and 1.79 steals per game.
Hubilla would shine more in the NCAA stepladder semifinals where he put up 35.5 points and 14.5 rebounds against Seven Gagate and Luis Pablos’ La Salle Green Hills.
The all-around big man was unstoppable against the Greenies and was manhandling the whole roster, scoring underneath at will but needed more help from his teammates.
“Chris Hubilla is a strong finisher on the break and has a nice touch around the basket. He plays bigger than his size, notably on the offensive glass,” said UP’s head coach Goldwyn Monteverde.
Hubilla will be joining Gagate, Pablo, and Jared Bahay, the recently hailed no. 1 high school player in the Philippines by the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC), in the stacked rookie pool of the Fighting Maroons.
Aside from Hubilla, Gagate, Pablo, and Bahay, LeBron Lopez, the former member of the Gilas Pilipinas young pool, will also reinforce them.
