UAAP Basketball

Ateneo Blue Eagles beef up their talent pool

Naveen Ganglani

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Ateneo Blue Eagles beef up their talent pool
The Blue Eagles probably need not worry even after Ateneo standout Angelo Kouame graduates

The Ateneo seniors basketball program added new recruits to its deep collection of student-athlete standouts.

Blue Eagles team manager Epok Quimpo confirmed on Wednesday, August 19, that 20-year-old Ghana native Kofi Agyei and 21-year-old Nigerian transferee Joseph Obasa have committed to their team. 

As foreign student-athletes, both players will serve residency. Only one of them, though, could earn Ateneo’s lone spot for a foreign student-athlete player once Angelo Kouame exhausts his 3 remaining season of eligibility, assuming the UAAP maintains the same rules on the matter.

However, one of the two new recruits –  the 6-foot-5 1/2 Agyei  – can play multiple sports. 

“Given his residency, we will expose him to other sports also, but mainly for his own strength and conditioning,” said Quimpo.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEAM514JwZA/

“Kofi is a special athlete who has abilities across multiple sports and we fully expect that he will represent Ateneo in one, if not, more sporting teams,” Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga, who is also the head coach of the Batang Gilas national team, told Rappler.  

“Specifically, soccer, athletics, and basketball.”

According to Quimpo, Agyei played the guard position for his club Coldstore Basketball in the Tema Basketball League.

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-10 1/2 Obasa, who transferred from a college in his home country, plays the center position. 

“They came from the same club,” said Quimpo, noting that both new recruits are familiar with each other.

The duo adds to Ateneo’s list of promising standouts in the upcoming years, given that Blue Eaglets Forthsky Padrigao and Joshua Lazaro are expected to bolster the seniors squad after their high school playing years. 

Still the favorites?

Despite losing veterans like Thirdy Ravena, the Nieto brothers of Matt and Mike, and Isaac Go, the Blue Eagles will still have a deep roster as Tab Baldwin and his boys attempt to win a fourth straight UAAP title whenever Season 83 tips off. 

Mainstays like Kouame, SJ Belangel, Tyler Tio, Gian Mamuyac, Will Navarro, and Matthew Daves are expected to return, with recruits Dwight and Eli Ramos also set to make their anticipated debuts. 

Furthermore, Ateneo is also expecting the return of Raffy Verano and Jolo Mendoza, both of whom missed Season 82 due to academic concerns. 

“They need to earn their spots in the team, but technically, they’re back in the program,” Quimpo said about the two. 

Other names to look out for include the 6-foot-8 Geo Chiu, the improved Troy Mallillin, former LSGH standout Inand Fornilos, former Blue Eaglet Jason Credo, and the Maagdenbergs, Patrick and Edward. 

Both Quimpo and Arespacochaga also expressed excitement for 6-foot-8 Kyle Ong of Jubilee high school, although whether he makes it to the main roster or spends a year with Team Glory Be will depend on his development. 

Mahaba and agile,” Quimpo described Ong’s basketball traits. 

Transferee Dave Ildefonso, who played for Ateneo’s championship high school team and became a superb scorer with the NU Bulldogs, will also suit up for the Blue Eagles starting Season 84.

Meanwhile, BJ Andrade, who tore his ACL early this year, is in the recovery process.

What could have been

Another name was supposed to be in Ateneo’s list of promising recruits: Fil-Kiwi Jordan Perez, who ranked in the top of his home country’s high school basketball rankings. 

Perez, who was recruited by Baldwin and Ateneo for more than two years, initially committed to the team but returned to New Zealand following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Quimpo. 

Due to the repercussions of the coronavirus, the nearly 6-foot tall point guard opted to enroll closer to home, and is not expected to be back for the Blue Eagles. – Rappler.com 

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!