UP Fighting Maroons add Fil-Am Jacob Bayla, Jordan Wilmore to roster

Photos from jacobbayla/Instagram, tiebreakertimes/website

The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons are making significant strides to enhance their basketball team with recent commitments from two promising players.

Filipino American hooper Jacob Bayla, a 6-foot-5 wing from Valley Christian High School in California, has officially committed to the Fighting Maroons. His decision marks a pivotal addition to the team’s roster as they prepare for the upcoming University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 alongside JD Cagulangan, Francis Lopez and Harold Alarcon.

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Adding to the team’s strength is 7-foot-3 Jordan Wilmore, a former teammate of Filipino basketball prodigy Kai Sotto. Wilmore, a product of The Skill Factory, will join UP as their Foreign Student Athlete (FSA) for the UAAP Season 88.

Last month, the athlete arrived in the Philippines to support his teammates during their game against the University of the East Red Warriors in the 2024 Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup at Paco Arena.

The 23-year-old brings a wealth of experience to the Maroons, having played for Missouri for two years before transferring to Northwestern State in his junior year and later moving to Austin Peay. Despite a modest debut performance in the Pinoyliga Cup, where he recorded six points, three rebounds and two blocks in 18 minutes of play, his potential remains high, having his presence felt during UP’s 74-53 victory over the Diliman College Blue Dragons at the Enderun College in Taguig City.

As the Fighting Maroons maintain an undefeated 7-0 record in the pre-season tournament, the addition of Bayla and Wilmore is expected to significantly bolster their lineup, setting the stage for a competitive UAAP season.

The 6-foot-5 Bayla will be taking up a Sports Science degree program in UP.

Fans and analysts alike are eagerly anticipating how these new talents will mesh with the existing roster and contribute to the team’s quest for glory.