The 6-foot-2 is a second-generation student-athlete and son of former PBA player Macky de Joya.

Coach Perasol believed that he would be a great gunner for the team as he saw Daniel as a ‘versatile and athletic wingman’.

“He has decent range from outside and is very explosive to the basket. This guy has the same toughness that his dad has,” he shared.

However, due to Daniel’s age, he will be only eligible to play for the Fighting Maroons for one year. 

This 24-year old baller had already finished his undergrad degree in the US and planned to take a masteral degree in UP.

De Joya shared that he happened to see the play of the Maroons while he was in the Milcu Got Skills tournament in 2019 which prompted him to go for UP.

Since then, he has been working on his figures and training hard in the US once he got the chance to dawn the maroon jersey.

Also, Gopez, who trains college and pro-level Filipino-American prospects planning to play basketball in the Philippines, described that Daniel would be handy when it comes to speed and energy.

“I definitely would like to see him work on his shot more, but his aggressiveness to the basket and the ability to go after the rebound are [traits] any coach would like,” he added.

Daniel played his collegiate career in Mt. San Antonio College, where he led his team in scoring, assists, and steals during his final season and averaged 11.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4 assists.

He shared that he would see himself more on the side of “point guard who can turn into a combo guard.”

“I’m a big, high-energy guy with a handle that finishes with both hands and shoots the three,” De Joya told Rappler.

He learned from his father who was a former San Beda standout in the NCAA, and played for the all-time foster Ginebra team along with the legendary ballers like Marlou Aquino, Bal David, Vince Hizon, Pido Jarencio, and Robert Jaworski.