Still, Pascual has one more playing year left with the Red Cubs before he reunites with fellow Red Cub Josh Alcantara at UE.

Though San Beda has been a great home to Pascual, he admitted that one of the reasons why he chose UE is because of familiarity with assistant coach Jamike Jarin. 

“I met coach Jamike po before Batang Gilas, and he was the one who invited me to try out for the national team. Kaya medyo familiar na rin po kami sa isa’t isa,” he propounded.

Moreover, not only did he know coach Jarin but head coach Santiago was also well known to his father.

“With coach Jack Santiago naman po, na ku-kuwento siya sakin lagi ng daddy ko na he’s one of the point guards ng Mapua during his time. As a point guard, I really want to learn a lot from him,” Pascual said.

“Sobrang taas po ng respeto ko with coach Jack Santiago and Coach Jamike Jarin because both of them are elite college coaches,” he added.

Standing 5-foot-11, Pascual was a former national youth team in the 2017 SEABA Under-16 Championship here in the country and in the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Championship in Argentina, netting 2.3 points and 1.3 rebounds per contest.

He posted 1.9 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 11.4 minutes of play in the Red Cubs’ battle for the NCAA Season 95 juniors title.

“Lahat ng experience ko with them, gagamitin ko para maka contribute sa team—lalo na rebuilding team kami,” Pascual concluded.

On the other hand, Red Warriors were also able to seize the commitments of Orin Catacutan, Brian Enriquez, Kyle Paranada, and CJ Payawal.

With the new recruits, the Red Warriors are battling to end the silence of their decade-long Final Four drought once the UAAP resumes next year.