Matthew Daves forgoes final year with Ateneo to turn pro

Ateneo veteran Matthew Daves turned down his last year with the Blue Eagles. – PHOTO CONTRIBUTION

MANILA, Philippines—After winning the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball championship with Ateneo, Matthew Daves will leave his final year of playing to try his luck at the professional level.

Daves, who won three championships with the Blue Eagles in Seasons 81, 82 and 85, asked not to play the swan song with the defending champions for Season 86.

“To the Ateneo community, I just want to thank you for accepting and supporting me for the past four years. Ateneo is my home and I will never forget the memories we made together,” said 24-year-old Daves.

However, Daves did not reveal which professional league he would apply to.

In his last college year, the Filipino-Canadian averaged just 1.93 points and 1.13 rebounds per game for Ateneo.

However, it was Daves’ height and efficiency, which stood out from the numbers.

Standing at 6-foot-5, Daves is a big-bodied forward who can open the floor in limited minutes and can deliver when it matters most.

With Ateneo’s season on the line in Game 2 of the UAAP Finals, Daves attempted to shoot the ball four times and sank a three. He finished with six points and an assist to help the Blue Eagles force a rubber match against the defending champion UP Fighting Maroons.

Team Ateneo Manager Christopher Quimpo said Ateneo stands behind his decision.

“We at Ateneo support the athlete’s decision if they want to go professional. More than winning championships, the main goal of our program is to turn student-athletes into professionals,” Quimpo said.

The current UAAP Kings will enter Season 86 with four key losses in Dave Ildefonso, Ange Kouame, BJ Andrade and Daves.

However, they will be able to apply the highly valued recruits who are resident in Mason Amos, Jared Brown and Albert Opeña Jr.

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