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Joining La Salle a dream come true for Batang Gilas standout Jollo Go

Jollo Go of Batang Gilas takes a shot against a French defender during the FIBA U17 World Championship in Dubai. (FIBA.com)

Coming off a heart-breaking UAAP season where they failed to defend their basketball title, the De La Salle Green Archers began their offseason chores on a high note by striking early in the recruitment wars as they landed Hope Christian High School and Batang Gilas standout Jollo Go into the mix.

Go, a 5-foot-10 shooting guard, announced his decision to go to DLSU via Instagram where he posted photo of himself with La Salle’s top sports patron Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco. He was one of the vital cogs of the PH national youth teams as he participated in the 2013 FIBA Asia U16 Championship, 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship and the 2014 FIBA Asia U18 Championship.

“Sobrang blessed lang po ako kasi isa sa mga dream ko talaga ‘yung makalaro doon [La Salle] at makapasok [doon for college education],” Go shared in an exclusive interview with Yahoo Sports. “UST, San Beda lang ‘yung kumausap [to me about playing for them in college], at wala na po [recruitment from other schools].”

In his three-year international career for the Batang Gilas team, he averaged norms of 9.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. In last year's FIBA U17 World Championship held in Dubai where Batang Gilas finished 15th, Go averaged 12.4 points, including a 27-point explosion against Argentina.

“Sobrang nakatulong sa akin [ang FIBA competition] kasi sobrang laking dagdag sa experience. Doon po malalaki ‘yung mga nagbabatay at malalakas at mas mabilis mga kalaban doon kaya nung pagbalik ko dito mas mataas ang kumpiyansa ko [in playing basketball].”

But despite committing to play for the Green Archers, Go indicated that he has yet to meet head coach Juno Sauler and the rest of the team. He specified that he will be joining the team after he finishes his commitments in the upcoming Jr. NBA school clinics from February 12 until February 15.

“Expect ko na kailangan po magtrabaho para po mabigyan ako ng pansin ng coaches at sipag lang talaga [when I join the Green Archers’ training camp],” Go said.

The Green Archers will losing guard Almond Vosotros and big man Yutien Andrada, who have both played the maximum five seasons.