UAAP Season 88 marked the end of Joaquin Ludovice’s three-year run with the Tiger Cubs, a stint highlighted by a championship in Season 87, multiple appearances with Gilas Pilipinas Youth, and an invitation to the NBA Basketball Without Borders camp in 2024.
Now 19 and in Grade 11, Ludovice is set to take a gap year in Season 89 after aging out of UAAP high school eligibility.
Despite missing the chance to compete in the UAAP next year, Ludovice said he was hoping to move up to the Growling Tigers as a collegiate athlete.
“Ang plan ko for Grade 12 ay, hopefully, to begin training for the UST college team,” Ludovice told the Varsitarian after the Tiger Cubs’ Season 88 run ended on Sunday with an 83-24 win over the University of the Philippines Integrated School Fighting Maroons.
“Sana makuha ko ‘yong opportunity na ‘yon. Wala po akong balak mag transfer. First option ko ang UST,” he added.
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The UAAP’s age limit for high school players is 19. With one more academic year remaining, Ludovice will be ineligible to compete next season.
Moving to an NCAA school is also not an option, as the league only allows players aged 18 or younger in its high school tournaments.
Ludovice traces his basketball roots to the NCAA, where he previously starred for the San Beda Red Cubs before transferring to UST in 2023.
Ludovice has been a key figure in the Manu Iñigo-led Tiger Cubs program, which captured the Season 87 title behind the likes of Koji Buenaflor, Carl Manding, and Charles Bucsit, all of whom have since moved up to the Growling Tigers.
Given a bigger offensive role this season, Ludovice averaged 11.5 points, 2.21 rebounds, and 2.93 assists per game for the Tiger Cubs, who finished sixth with a 5-9 record.
Ludovice said he had spoken with Growling Tigers head coach Pido Jarencio during the preseason about the possibility of training with the collegiate team after Season 88, and he hopes the invitation still stands.
“Sila coach Pido, sinasabihan ako noong preseason na magsimula na akong mag-training. Sana matuloy pa rin ‘yong offer na ‘yon kahit ganito ‘yong nangyari sa amin this season,” he said.
“Alam ko marami akong naging lapses this season, pero hopefully mapatunayan ko pa ‘yong sarili ko. Magte-training pa ako and extra work during the offseason para lalo ko pa pong ma-hone ‘yong sarili ko for college.”
Although he will be ineligible for UAAP high school competition, Ludovice can still suit up for UST in offseason tournaments such as the NBTC National Finals later this month.
The NBTC ranked Ludovice No. 19 in its national rankings last year, up from No. 20 in 2024.
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Meanwhile, Iñigo emphasized that the Tiger Cubs program continues to coordinate closely with Jarencio and the Growling Tigers in preparing high school standouts for the collegiate level.
“Hindi lang naman kami nandito para sa championships. We’re here to develop the players para makarating sila sa next level,” he said Sunday.
“That’s the main goal ng staff ko. Lahat ng dumadaan sa amin, makakarating sa next level sa college. We’re still aiming na lahat ng nag graduate ay makapag-aral sa UST sa college.”
The Growling Tigers lost several guards following their fourth-place finish in Season 88. Team captains Nic Cabañero and Forthsky Padrigao have completed their stints with the team, while backup guards Kyle Paranada and Leland Estacio are set to graduate this year.
Aside from Ludovice, the Tiger Cubs will also bid farewell to Kirk Cañete, Liam Acido, foreign student athlete Ola Ajani, Kyle Bandingan, Charles Esteban, Jetlee Melano, and Carsson Vidanes.
For now, Ludovice remains committed to helping the Tiger Cubs bounce back in Season 89.
“Nandito pa rin ako kay coach Manu. Tutulungan ko pa rin sila makabawi. Sasama ako sa training to improve myself and syempre ‘yong Tiger Cubs para makabawi next season.”
