BY JONAS TERRADO
The recently-retired Ranidel de Ocampo is one of the living proofs that a PBA player can still have a great career despite not being a product of a UAAP or NCAA school.
De Ocampo used his stint at St. Francis of Assisi College in Las Pinas City as a stepping stone to produce a decorated 15-year career that ended Monday when he announced his retirement.
Magnolia’s Marc Pingris and Gary David, De Ocampo’s former teammates at Gilas Pilipinas, also came from outside the two prestigious collegiate leagues.
Pingris played at Philippine School of Business Administration while David came from Lyceum, back when the Intramuros campus was still attempting to make its foray into the NCAA.
His blue-collar mentality allowed Pingris to become the backbone of numerous championships of the Purefoods franchise and Gilas runs in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship and 2014 FIBA World Championship while David became a renowned scorer, particularly during his stint with Powerade in the 2012 season.
Another PSBA alumnus has slowly become one of the PBA’s best big man in Alaska’s Vic Manuel while Nelson Asaytono of University of Manila established a memorable career, most notably with Purefoods, Sunkist and San Miguel Beer.
Stars outside of the UAAP and NCAA are not limited in schools in Metro Manila.
June Mar Fajardo is now considered as one of the PBA’s best ever, winning six Most Valuable Player awards and eight championships. He first got noticed playing for University of Cebu and matching up with University of the Visayas’ Greg Slaughter.
Fellow UC alumnus Dondon Hontiveros became one of the best shooters ever, first with the Cebu Gems of the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association before playing 17 seasons with Tanduay, San Miguel and Alaska.
Cebu also produced University of San Carlos’ Ramon Fernandez, the PBA’s first four-time MVP, and University of San Jose-Recoletos’ Abet Guidaben and Bernie Fabiosa, to name a few.
