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 develop a steady stream of talent each season that has produced championships in the UAAP.

There is no difference in the strength of the team as the Blue Eagles defend their crown next year despite witnessing the exodus of three key cogs who helped deliver another title last year.

Finals MVP Ange Kouame, winger Dave Ildefonso and sharpshooter BJ Andrade have all left Ateneo’s growing player factory, but the void left will be filled with plenty of talent left for the Eagles.

“We have a lot of recruits coming next year. In our program, we don’t play around with the truth and the truth is, if you want to be a Blue Eagle next year, you have to fight for your position,” Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin said afterward celebration event. for season 85 the champion will die down.

According to Ateneo team manager Epok Quimpo, it is a tight competition among the players in the Blue Eagles’ 28-man pool for the spot with three to four recruits ready to fill the open void.

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

“They [Obasa] built almost the same as Ange. But while Ange has all the skills, Joseph especially plays the role of a big man,” said Quimpo.

“Honestly, it’s hard to predict if he goes out, but I think he can compete,” Quimpo added.

worthy sub

Obasa subbed for the 6-foot-11 Kouame during the championship game at the World University Basketball Series in Tokyo, Japan, while Kouame was resting an injured knee.

Bongo is a 6-foot-4 wing player who plays in Los Angeles, California, while Brown is an experienced point guard from a California NCAA division 2 school and he will share minutes with starting court general and Team Mythical member Forthsky Padrigao, and playmaker off- the-bench Vince Gomez.

But the biggest of them all might be the 6-foot-7 Amos, who led the Gilas Pilipinas youth squad during the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) Asian Under-18 Championship in Tehran, Iran four months ago.

Given his multi-dimensional offensive arsenal, the 18-year-old Amos can shoot from the outside with ease, drive smoothly into the lane and barrel through the paint.

Amos is the most promising player among the current crop of Batang Gilas, after giving notice of his strength in the continent after averaging 24.3 points per game on top of 5.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals during the Fiba tournament.

Obasa, who has been hooked with the Blue Eagles even before the pandemic hit three years ago, will be eligible to suit up with the blue-white for at least two more seasons, but Amos, a freshman choice from high school, has a long collegiate stint ahead of him.

These guys should help hold the fort for Ateneo’s title defense next season along with Kai Ballungay, Chris Koon, Joshua Lazaro, Matt Daves, Anton Quitevis, Geo Chiu, Padrigao, Gomez and shooter Paul Garcia.

“The future is always uncertain. But I know these guys and they are fighters,” said Baldwin, who will spend the new year in the United States and return to the country before training resumes Jan. 11.

Heading overseas

Kouame, the Season 84 MVP who won three championships with Ateneo, is set to correct a knee problem, but not after suiting up for the Philippine team that will play in the Dubai Invitational later this month.

Ildefonso, the son of two-time Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) MVP and basketball legend Danny Ildefonso, is bringing his talents overseas and sources say he will suit up with Suwon KT Sonicboom in the Korea Basketball League.

“They will all play professionally. I think they can see different paths for them. Ange, of course, can’t play in the PBA, but he will be good enough to play as an import. We have to try and figure out how to help him in the future,” Baldwin said.

“Maybe [he could play] in Europe, maybe in Japan where I think it is good enough to play the role of imports through there. He still has work to do in the offensive game, but he’ll be a pro in another 10 to 12 years,” Baldwin added.

Andrade, who was impressive coming out of college after hitting all-important free throws in the Game 3 victory, could be a good find for a coach in the big leagues.

“If you want a champion on your team, you want someone who can defend, take the ball, whatever you say or open a brick wall for you and love his teammates, get BJ Andrade,” Baldwin said.

Stay ready

Ateneo now has 12 UAAP titles in men’s basketball after winning 10 of 15 finals appearances in 21 seasons. Baldwin has led the Blue Eagles to four championships in the last six seasons.

Ateneo’s latest conquest is a championship victory over the UP Fighting Maroons in another classic Game 3, no showdown tomorrow.

Daily practices of the Blue Eagles are usually held in the evening for four hours, including weight training or watching sessions.

But since no tournaments will be on the horizon, weight training will be more extensive than usual in a classroom type setup.

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

The Blue Eagles saw action at the 2018 William Jones Cup in Taipei, subbing for Gilas as they prepare for another Fiba-sanctioned tournament.

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

“We usually hold training camps outside the country. We went to Israel this year, but we haven’t decided where to go next year. We have plans, but nothing concrete yet,” said Quimpo.

Preparations for the UAAP will be over after the Fiba World Cup and the Blue Eagles know that everyone will have a shiny crown on their head.

And as he had done in previous seasons, he made sure he was up to the challenge. INQ

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