Three former UP Fighting Maroons have joined the world of professional basketball.  Abby Santos, Jireh Ibañes, and Mike Gavino were in the roster of the recently concluded 2006 rookie draft of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Santos, who played forward for UP, was drafted by Welcoat. He was picked 10th overall in the first round of the draft. In the previous season of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP), Santos was team captain of the UP squad. It was also his last playing year in collegiate basketball. During the UAAP off-season, Santos played in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL).

Similarly, Ibañes, another UP forward, was picked by Welcoat. He was the 11th pick overall and the first in the second round of the draft. Ibañes also played in the PBL during the off-season of the UAAP. He last donned his Fighting Maroons jersey in the UAAP two seasons ago.

Gavino, who only played one UAAP season for UP, was drafted by the Coca-Cola team. He was the 16th overall pick and the sixth in the second round of the draft. Gavino played center for UP in the last UAAP season. Prior to rallying behind the maroon banner, he saw UAAP playing time as a member of the De La Salle Green Archers. Like Santos and Ibañes, he was also in the PBL.
The PBA pre-season tournament kicked off on Sept.1.