Jeric Fortuna
| No. 18 – Barako Bull Energy Cola | |
|---|---|
| Point Guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born |
November 25, 1991 Parañaque City, Philippines |
| Nationality |
 Philippines |
| Listed height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Listed weight | 150 lb (68 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | De La Salle Santiago Zobel School |
| College | University of Santo Tomas |
| PBA draft | 2013 Round: 2 / Pick: 14th overall |
| Selected by the Barako Bull Energy Cola | |
| Career history | |
| 2011-12 | Black Water Sports (PBA D-League) |
| 2012-13 | San Miguel Beermen (ABL) |
| 2013-present | Barako Bull Energy Cola |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Jeric Marco Gray Fortuna (born November 25, 1991) is a basketball player from the Philippines. He was drafted 14th overall by the Barako Bull Energy Cola in the 2013 PBA Draft.
UST Growling Tigers
Rookie season
Fortuna joined the Tigers in 2008. Fortuna played limited minutes with the Tigers in favor of veteran point guard Japs Cuan during his rookie season and finished with averages of 3.7 points per game, 1.7 assists per game and 1.7 rebounds per game.[1]
Second season
In his second season, Fortuna became the starting point guard for the Tigers replacing the already graduated Cuan. The Tigers finished the season 6-8 and made it to the Final Four, but were defeated by the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the Final Four 64-81.[2] In his first season as the starting point guard, Fortuna finished the season averaging 8.0 points per game, 4.0 assists per game where he leads the team, 3.3 rebounds per game, 1.6 steals per game and 46% shooting from 3 point range which allowed him to win the Star Shooter award for the season.[3]
Third season
In his third season, Fortuna once again led the Tigers in assists averaging 10.4 points per game, 4.7 assists per game, 3.7 rebounds per game and 1.1 steals per game.[4] It was in this season when Fortuna set a UAAP career high 29 points in 87-81 victory against the UP Fighting Maroons.[5] Unfortunately, the inexperienced Tigers failed to return to the Final Four and finished 7th in the standings at 4-10 ahead of the UP Fighting Maroons.
Fourth season
In his fourth season, Fortuna led the Tigers in scoring and assists averaging 14.6 points per game, 4.8 rebounds per game, 3.1 assists per game and 1.4 steals per game.[6] Together with Jeric Teng, Chris Camus and rookie center Karim Abdul, the Tigers finished the season in 4th place with a 8-6 record and returned to the Final Four. In their Final Four match-up against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, Fortuna had the chance to send the game into overtime with a three pointer, but his shot came too strong as the Tigers were knocked out by the Blue Eagles to advance to the Finals 66-69.[7]
Final season
In his final season with the Tigers, Fortuna was named the captain of the Tigers with Jeric Teng as the co-captain. In their second round meeting against the NU Bulldogs, Fortuna sank in a three pointer to tie the game at 51 and send it into overtime, in which the Tigers won 58-57.[8] The Tigers were able to advance to the UAAP Final Four as the #2 seed with a 10-4 record in the elimination round, they were able to defeat the NU Bulldogs to advance to the UAAP Finals and faced off against the Ateneo Blue Eagles but were swept in the Finals 2-0 as the Blue Eagles completed their five-peat.[9] In his final season wit the Tigers, Fortuna averaged 8.8 points per game, a league-leading 5.1 assists per game and 5.2 rebounds per game on 34% shooting from the field and 76% shooting from the free throw line.[10]
In the Philippine Collegiate Champions League later that year, Fortuna would play a key part in the Tigers run in the tournament as they first won the Metro Manila-Luzon tournament by defeating both the Letran Knights and the Adamson Soaring Falcons to enter into the PCCL Final Four with the Ateneo Blue Eagles, San Beda Red Lions and the Southwestern U Cobras. The Tigers would finish with a 2-1 record in the Final Four to set up a rematch with the Blue Eagles in the Finals, where the Tigers exacted their revenge against the Eagles as they were crowned the National Champions after winning the title in a tightly contested three game series. Fortuna would later be named to the Mythical Five team for the tournament alongside teammates Karim Abdul and Jeric Teng who was crowned Finals MVP.[11]
San Miguel Beermen
After the collegiate basketball season, Fortuna would start training for the San Miguel Beermen of the ASEAN Basketball League.[12] Fortuna eventually made it into the lineup in the new ABL season, and would play a key part during their run to the championship as the Beermen were led by veterans like Asi Taulava and Chris Banchero. The Beermen would win the title against the Indonesia Warriors in a three game sweep.[13]
References
- ↑ UAAP Season 71 - University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers » inboundpass.com – Covering Philippine college basketball:
- ↑ Payo, Jasmine (2009-09-21). "Eagles back in UAAP finals". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
- ↑ UAAP Season 72 - University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers » inboundpass.com – Covering Philippine college basketball:
- ↑ UAAP Season 73 - University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers » inboundpass.com – Covering Philippine college basketball:
- ↑ Tigers drop bombs on Maroons ABS-CBN News
- ↑ UAAP Season 74 - University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers » inboundpass.com – Covering Philippine college basketball:
- ↑ Ateneo escapes UST late run, enters UAAP finals GMA News Online
- ↑ UAAP: Tigers dispatch Bulldogs in overtime GMA News Online
- ↑ Five-peat complete, as Ateneo sweeps UST
- ↑ UAAP Season 75 - University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers » inboundpass.com – Covering Philippine college basketball
- ↑ UST edges Ateneo in Game 3 to clinch PCCL title Inquirer Sports
- ↑ UST standout Fortuna starts training with San Miguel Inquirer Sports
- ↑ Asi, Banchero power Beermen to ABL crown Philippine Star
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