Aljun Melecio leaves La Salle, joins PBA draft

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

The De La Salle Green Archers just lost the most prolific scorer on their roster.

After contemplating one of the most crucial decisions in his basketball career, Aljun Melecio finally broke his silence and decided to test his fate in the 2021 PBA Draft.

“This is a painful announcement, but it is one I have to make: I am entering the 2021 PBA Draft,” said La Salle’s dynamic main gunner.

Despite his commitment to stay with La Salle in his fifth and final playing year, Melecio bared that the uncertainty of the UAAP amid the COVID-19 pandemic was one of the factors that helped him with his decision.

With UAAP’s decision to postpone the February 2021 Season 83 due to COVID-19 concerns, Melecio will then have his final year with the Green Archers in 2022 and will have his chance in the PBA in 2023.

“There are just some things in life that we can’t control, and this was one of them. This was not the ending I expected for my time playing for the green and white. Being the team captain in my last playing year, I almost did not let go, but there are just some hard, but important decisions we must make,” Melecio added.

Melecio will always be remembered as one of the most talented scorers in the UAAP to ever wear the green and white. Despite the lack of size, his speed, shiftiness, and relentlessness of going to the hoop made him a superstar.

The 22-year-old guard will end his Green Archers career with an average of 11.53 points, 3.32 rebounds, 2.59 assists, and 0.91 steals per game.

“From Zobel to Taft, I always bled green. I will always be a Lasallian and I hope to keep making the Lasallian Community proud as a professional basketball player,” Melecio shared.