Sports

Ateneo opens up slots left by three graduating stars, and think tank sees no shortage in talent


Ateneo’s basketball program continues to be one of the most formidable in the country, never failing to produce a steady stream of talent each season, resulting in a dominant championship streak in the UAAP.

It will be no different in terms of collective strength when the Blue Eagles defend the throne next year despite seeing the departure of three pillar gears that helped bring back another title this year. via.

Finals MVP Ange Kouame, winger Dave Ildefonso and AD carry BJ Andrade have all left Ateneo’s burgeoning player factory, but the void they leave will be filled by a wealth of talent. Abundance still exists for the Eagle to choose from.

“We have a lot of rookies coming in next year. In our program, we don’t play with the truth and the truth is that if you want to be a Blue Eagle next year, you have to fight for your place.”, coach Tab Baldwin of Ateneo said immediately after the celebratory party. for the season 85 championship is coming to an end.

According to Ateneo team manager Epok Quimpo, it’s been a stiff competition between players in the Blue Eagles’ 28-man group to win these slots with three to four rookies ready to fill the open spaces. go out.

Mason Amos

Mason Amos will wear a different kind of blue and white —FIBA

Filipino-Americans Andrew Bongo, Jared Brown and Fil-Aussie Mason Amos could all be rookies in Season 86 and Ateneo’s addition of 6-foot-10-tall central defender Joseph Obasa as foreign student-athlete could be ateneo’s. could be a worthy replacement for naturalized Kouame.

“His [Obasa] built almost like Ange. But while Ange has a well-rounded skill set, Joseph especially plays the role of a big man,” said Quimpo.

“Honestly, it’s very unpredictable when he’s on the pitch, but I guess he can play,” added Quimpo.

worthy side

Obasa replaced the 6-foot-11 Kouame during their championship in the World University Basketball Tournament in Tokyo, Japan, when Kouame was resting with a knee injury.

Bongo is a 6-foot-4 winger who has played in Los Angeles, California, while Brown is a seasoned point guard from an NCAA middle school in California and he is expected will share the minutes with the starting court general and member of Team Mythology, Forthsky Padrigao, and bench player Vince Gomez.

But the most notable of them might be the 6-foot-7 Amos, who led the Gilas Pilipinas youth team in the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) Under-18 Asian Championships in Tehran, Iran four months ago.

Gifted with a multi-dimensional offensive arsenal, 18-year-old Amos can shoot from the outside with ease, drive smoothly into lanes, and head straight into the mountains.

Amos is the most promising of Batang Gilas’s current seasons, having been noted for his strength on the continent after averaging 24.3 pace-setting points per game alongside 5, 7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals in the Fiba league.

Obasa, who was with the Blue Eagles even before the pandemic hit three years ago, will be eligible to wear the blue and white jersey for at least two more seasons while Amos, a recent high school graduate, has a long time at university ahead of him.

These guys will help keep Ateneo’s title defense in place next season alongside Kai Ballungay, Chris Koon, Joshua Lazaro, Matt Daves, Anton Fewvis, Geo Chiu, Padrigao, Gomez and shooter Paul Garcia.

“The future is always uncertain. But I know these people and they are warriors,” Baldwin said. He will spend the New Year in the US and return home before resuming training on January 11.

heading abroad

Kouame, MVP of Season 84, who has won three championships with Ateneo, is set to go under the knife to correct his knee problems, but not after wearing the shirt for the Philippines team that will compete in Dubai Invitational later this month.

Ildefonso, son of two-time Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) MVP and basketball legend Danny Ildefonso, is bringing his talent abroad and sources say he will be teaming up with Suwon KT Sonicboom in Korean Basketball League.

“They will all play professionally. I think they can see diverse paths for them. Of course, Ange can’t play in the PBA, but he will be good enough to play in the import position. We will have to try to find a way to help him have a future,” Baldwin said.

“Probably [he could play] in Europe, maybe in Japan, where I think he’s good enough to play the import role there. He still has a lot of work to do in his attacking play, but he will be a professional in 10 to 12 years,” added Baldwin.

Dave Ildefonso, Ange Kouame, and BJ Andrada

Outgoing stars (from left) Dave Ildefonso, Ange Kouame and BJ Andrada will be cheering on the Ateneo championship bids from the sidelines starting this year —PHOTOS BY UAAP

Andrade, who brilliantly walked away from his college stint after successfully shooting all-important free throws in their Game 3 win, could be a valuable discovery for coaches in major leagues.

“If you want a winner on your team, you want a guy who can defend, kick the ball, whatever you say or run brick walls for you and love his teammates,” Baldwin said. him, get BJ Andrade,” Baldwin said.

Coach Tab Baldwin and patron Manny V. Pangilinan will continue to plot more titles

ready

Ateneo currently owns 12 UAAP titles in men’s basketball after winning 10 of 15 finals over a 21-season span. Baldwin has led the Blue Eagles to their last four championships in the past six seasons.

Ateneo’s recent conquest was a championship win over UP Fighting Maroons in another classic Game 3, an official match with no tomorrow.

Daily Blue Eagle training sessions are usually held in the late afternoon for four hours, including weight training or watching.

But since there are no tournaments coming up, weight training will be extended in lieu of regular viewing in a classroom-style setting.

“We want to participate in all the local tournaments and if possible we hope to play in the Jones Cup again,” said Quimpo.

The Blue Eagles competed at the 2018 William Jones Cup in Taipei, replacing Gilas as the team was preparing for another Fiba-approved tournament.

Part of Ateneo’s build-up for Season 86 is the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup in June or July before defending the World University Basketball Series title in early August ahead of the 2023 Fiba World Cup that the Philippines will co-host with. Japan and Indonesia.

“We often hold training camps abroad. We went to Israel this year, but we have not decided where to go next year. We’ve made plans, but nothing concrete yet,” said Quimpo.

The preparations for UAAP will be in full swing after the Fiba World Cup and the Blue Eagles are fully aware that everyone will be chasing the shiny crown on their heads.

And like what they did last season, they’re making sure they’re up to the challenge. request

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