Former JRU Bomber Jaycee Asuncion hopes for a chance in the coming PBA Draft

Former JRU Bomber Jaycee Asuncion hopes for a chance in the coming PBA Draft

by rick olivares

For 25-year old former Jose Rizal University Heavy Bomber Jaycee Asuncion, the odds are once more stacked against him. The Valenzuela native who now calls Cavite home, has always had to fight to show what he could do on the basketball court.

He starred for Philippine Christian University in high school and played one year of college ball with the seniors team before it was kicked out of the NCAA for irregularities. Jaycee transferred to the University of Perpetual Help along with former PCU teammates Jett Vidal, George Allen, Harold Sumera, and Marlon Gomez. Unfortunately for that team of Altas that also had Scottie Thompson, Justine Alano, Harold Arboleda, and Jong Baloria they were hit by the NCAA that said that Gomez and another transferee Paul Nuilan were ineligible to play. The accusations were questionable. Nevertheless, the NCAA had its way as Gomez and Nuilan were disallowed from suiting up. What was a promising team was left rudderless one week before that 2008 season.

“That team pressed like no other,” reflected Jaycee in the vernacular on the Altas’ propensity for a full court trapping defense. “It was fun to watch. And we tripped up some pretty good teams in the Filoil and UAAP tournaments. Maybe some teams were afraid of us.”

Unfortunately, despite losing two key cogs in the Altas, Asuncion felt that he wasn’t going to get much playing time in that team that more or less came up together so he made one last transfer of addresses, this time from Las Piñas to Mandaluyong to JRU where he teamed up with Philip Paniamogan and Michael Mabulac to form a dynamic attacking team. Unfortunately for those Heavy Bombers, they were waylaid by Jiovani Jalalon’s Arellano University Chiefs that booked their first finals appearance in Season 90.

Now, Asuncion is hoping to make the jump to the pros. He has to contend with two drafts – the Special Gilas draft and the regular one on October 30 at Robinson’s Malate. In the meantime, he’s busy trying out for various PBA clubs that have already opened their doors for pre-workouts. “Am up against free agents, players transferring clubs, and rookies,” said Asuncion after his second workout with the Phoenix Fuel Masters at the Green Meadows gym over the past week. “But it’s like that. I just have to go out and do my best.”

Jaycee during workouts with Ariel Vanguardia's Phoenix team.

The 5’11” Asuncion can shoot and drive to the basket and has a defensive streak in him. His career highlights during his lone year with the Heavy Bombers in Season 90 (2014) were wins against Perpetual Help and San Beda. In the victory of the Altas, Asuncion scored 16 points including seven in overtime to pip his former team, 80-76.

During the triumph over San Beda, Jaycee paced his team with 19 points and six rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

In the pros, Jaycee who idolizes Jayson Castro and Kevin Durant, have to play combo guard but will need to work on his shooting.

“All I hope is I am given a chance with a team and I will show what I can do,” said Asuncion.