Former UAAP standouts John Abate of the UE Red Warriors, Terrence Fortea of the UP Fighting Maroons, and Cedrick Manzano of the Adamson Falcons underscored their readiness for the pro ranks with superb debuts in the MPBL’s 2026 Preseason Invitational: Road to Tip-Off.
Cedrick Manzano Soars as Quezon Looks Stacked
The 6-foot-5 Manzano looked like the prized recruit of this upcoming season, leading the Quezon Huskers with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals in just a little under 14 minutes of action in their 116-80 victory over the Junior MPBL D-League Selection. The former Falcon, who was a vital cog in the Gilas squad that won gold in the recent SEA Games, will likely be playing more minutes as the real season unfolds in March.
Fellow Quezon newcomers Abate and Jojo Manansala of the NU Bulldogs also stood out, with Abate firing 13 points on three triples and Manansala recording 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. Manansala, a 6-foot-4 wing with playmaking skills, could form a long, athletic wing combo with Manzano, while Abate, one of UE’s few bright spots last season, figures to give Quezon some much-needed outside sniping.
Terrence Fortea Steps Out of the Shadows
Like Cedrick Manzano, former Fighting Maroon Terrence Fortea also looked superb in his first game in the MPBL, contributing 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists to help the San Juan Knights to a hard-fought 86-75 victory over the Marikina Shoemasters.
Fortea is one of four UP Maroon 5 members who signed with San Juan in the offseason, along with Harold Alarcon, Reyland Torres, and Gerry Abadiano. At UP, he largely took a backseat to Alarcon and company, but he looked pro-ready against Marikina, comfortably running the offense and making the right plays. Fortea’s more heralded Maroon 5 teammates didn’t look bad either, as Torres chipped in 10 points and 2 rebounds, while Alarcon had 7 markers.
Cedrick Manzano, Terrence Fortea, and their fellow UAAP alumni will be tested some more in this preseason, which features a record 16 teams.
