WHILE University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) hasn’t started yet due to the pandemic, reigning champion Ateneo de Manila University has continuously beefed up its roster for the next two seasons after acquiring two Filipino-foreign players on Monday.
Nineteen-year-old Kai Ballungay and 6-foot-4 Andrew Bongo made a commitment to play for Ateneo, according to team manager Epok Quimpo during an online news conference.
“Kai [Ballungay] has been on the radar of the program ever since,” Quimpo said, noting the 6-foot-7 Ballungay will be available to play in Season 85 men’s basketball action within three more years. “We’re very thankful that Kai decided right now to serve his residency to be able to play for the next season.”
Quimpo said they recruited Bongo through the efforts by the Ateneo network composed of former Blue Eagles in the United States before the pandemic. “They were the ones who actually sent me at first Andrew’s clip. I think it was a year and a half ago,” he shared.
Ateneo – winner of three UAAP crowns under head coach Thomas Anthony “Tab” Baldwin – will be heading with a competitive line-up in the next two seasons. The Blue Eagles also have five national players – Dwight Ramos, naturalized 6-foot-11 center Ange Kouame, SJ Belangel, Dave Ildefonso and Geo Chiu – on their line-up.
“We’re really excited, and these are both high quality basketball players,” Baldwin said of his two new recruits. “They have proven themselves in the US at the high school level. A lot of people here haven’t seen much of these guys but obviously we’re bringing more size into the program.”
Ballungay, a former Cal State Stanislaus player, suited up for FilAm Sports USA in the National Basketball Training Center National Finals in 2019.
Bongo, on the other hand, can play a maximum of five years starting Season 84. He recently graduated from Charter Oak High School in Covina, California where he averaged 22.0 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.3 steals, according to its school website.
So far, Ateneo’s other recruits are 6-foot-4 Fil-Am Chris Koon, Josh Lazaro, Gabriel Gomez and Forthsky Padrigao who are all eligible to play this upcoming Season 84.