Spencer foregoes final playing year with UP

MANILA, Philippines – Another Maroon has left Diliman to test the waters abroad.

James Spencer, a vital cog of the University of the Philippines, on Friday announced that he’s opted to forego his final year of eligibility to strut his stuff in Australia’s semi-professional league in NBL1.

It’s a homecoming of sorts for the Filipino-Australian stalwart, who traces his roots in Victoria, Australia, following a stellar run with the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP.

The 6-foot-4 Spencer is already playing for the Dandenong Rangers with hopes of impressing for professional opportunities in the Land Down Under and other countries.

UP’s director for basketball operations Bo Perasol also confirmed Spencer’s departure.

“Yes. That’s right,” Perasol told Philstar.com in a text message Friday.

Spencer, 23, played four seasons for UP and served as one of the core in the school’s historic Season 84 campaign to end a 36-year title drought at the expense of the Ateneo dynasty.

He also stamped his class in Gilas Pilipinas Youth in the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup with Kai Sotto, who spent two years in the Australia NBL before taking his talents to Japan.

Spencer joined Carl Tamayo, who’s also in Japan, in the list of major losses for UP this upcoming Season 86 albeit it acquired key future pieces led by the country’s top high school players Jared Bahay, Lebron Lopez and NCAA juniors MVP Luis Pablo.

UP is out to regain the UAAP crown after relinquishing it back to Ateneo in three thrilling games last season. – With a report from Dino Maragay