Ateneo beefs up roster with commitment of Fil-Ams Kai Ballungay, Andrew Bongo

The Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles continue to beef up their roster as the University Athletic Association of the Philippines' (UAAP) three-time defending men's basketball champions secured the commitment of Filipino-American players Kai Ballungay and Andrew Bongo.

Ballungay, who stands at 6-foot-7, is a product of Kimball High School in California and played for the California State University Stanislaus for a year.

"I'm super excited to join the Ateneo family and I can't wait to get to work," said Balungay, who played for FilAm Sports USA in the Philippines alongside NBA prospect Jalen Green in the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) National Finals back in 2019.

"Since I was young, I hate losing, and I feel like I'll do whatever it takes to win games, whatever Coach Tab (Baldwin) Needs me to do," Ballungay said when asked about what fans could expect from him.

Bongo, meanwhile, is a 6-foot-4 guard out of Charter Oak High School, also in California.

"I think Ateneo is the best school that will help me grow in every aspect, not just in basketball, but school-wise as well," Bongo said about his decision to join the Katipunan-based squad.

Bongo said his style of play is somehow similar to Dallas Mavericks' Luka Doncic. "I'm more of like, I play smart, I play control, I try to read every situation," he added.

Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin said the recruitment of talents such as Ballungay and Bongo is a testament to the quality of the university and its basketball program.

"It's most enjoyable and most encouraging when we see a young man who chooses our university and chooses the program because he sees the quality of the program and the university," he said.

"It's very exciting to bring these talents into the program," he added.

Ballungay will be eligible to play in Season 85 while Bongo is expected to be part of the blue and white's title defense in Season 84.

Ateneo back in 2020 also got the commitment of another Fil-Am player in Chris Koon, and high school standouts Forthsky Padrigao and Josh Lazaro.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA News