Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s Pao Javillonar. Photo from NCAA Philippines.

MANILA — Colegio de San Juan de Letran's Pao Javillonar has ended his collegiate career.

The Knights' 67-65 heartbreak against Arellano University in their last game in the NCAA Season 100 men's basketball tournament meant that the 6-foot-6, bruising big has used all of his eligibility in the grand-old league. 

"Siyempre nandun yung gigil after mangyari nito," said Javillonar, who had 11 markers in his last NCAA game, after losing to the Chiefs.

Letran's loss meant that they already had no chance of fighting for a spot in the Final 4, depriving them of the opportunity to complete their redemption following their 2-16 showing in Season 99. 

READ: Arellano hands Letran heartbreak, ends Knights’ Final 4 aspirations

Still, there were no regrets for Javillonar.

"Yes, siyempre [worth it]," insisted the PBA Season 49 Rookie Draft selection of the Converge FiberXers. 

"Gusto ko rin kasi bumawi talaga eh. Kumbaga, itong last year, gusto ko pang i-dedicate sa Letran. Kasi sila nagbigay sa akin ng opportunity pa na makapaglaro sa collegiate. So yun din ang balik ko sa kanila, hindi lang sa pag ba-basketball kundi pati sa pag-aaral."

"Same goes rin, pa-graduate na ako next year. Pasasalamat ko rin sa Letran. And gusto ko talaga maglaro sa Letran kasi hindi ko na mababalikan to eh. So I wanted to make the most out of it," he added.

Javillonar was a winner while donning the Knights' Blue and Red. He was a part of Bonnie Tan's three-peat squad from Season 95 to 98, mainly providing height and strength for the Muralla-based squad in those years. 

"Sobrang thankful kasi bihira yung [three-peat] as a college player," he said. "Yung naging campaign namin, dadalhin ko 'to paglabas going to the pro. Work hard lang and pray lang kasi yung presence ni Lord doon tayo kumukuha ng lakas eh." 

And even if his last two years in Intramuros were lows compared to his first three, Javillonar is taking it with the same toughness that he used to bang bodies with the NCAA's best big men. 

"Sa buhay naman, hindi pwede nasa taas ka palagi. Gulong lang rin yan, minsan nasa baba, minsan nasa taas. So it's how you handle situations na lang," insisted Javillonar, who even developed a three-point shot to his arsenal this year.

"Yun yung nasa harap mo at binigay sayo ni Lord. Hindi ka naman bibigyan ni Lord ng kaya mong hindi lutasan. Yun nga yung sinasabi ni coach Allen [Ricardo], na sa attitude pa rin [de-depende] yun."

Moving forward, Javillonar said that all of these — both ups and downs — will eventually help him as he goes to the PBA with the FiberXers. 

"After kanina, nag-lock in na agad ako," he emphasized. "Kasi konektado naman lahat with boss Frank [Lao] and Strong Group and with Coach Allen," he said of their backers that also supports Converge in the PBA.

"So iisa lang sa pupuntahan kom sa Converge. Nag focus lang muna kung ako sa kung ano yung nasa harapan. Then next play na, laban ulit," he said.