Kai Ballungay ready ta take on a bigger role for the Blue Eagles.
Different players, same result.
This is what the defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles want to achieve in the upcoming UAAP men’s basketball season.
Kai Ballungay knows they need to find another way to do that, though, especially because Ateneo is basically a new team with the departure of guys like BJ Andrade, Ange Kouame, and Dave Ildefonso.
“Coach Tab [Baldwin] always tells us we’re not defending titles. Each season is we have to build on our own,” he told One Sports.
“We’re gonna have to do it the different way. We’re gonna find our way of doing it, create our own story and be able to carry on the culture of Ateneo and what BEBOP represents and means to our culture.”
This has to start with Ballungay, who is now tasked to lead the team to another UAAP title. Standing by his side is blue-chip recruit Mason Amos, who also impressed in a GIlas Pilipinas jersey earlier this year.
“For me, a role that I can take on is one of the leaders, one that’s vocal, someone who’s there for those players because they’re gonna be playing a significant amount of minutes for us,” he said.
“They’re gonna be able to contribute on the court and they’re gonna need guys that have experience like I had in my first year."
The 6-foot-7 forward is ready to take on that bigger role for the team.
“(Last year) I was able to have BJ, Ange, Dave, those guys who had experience in the UAAP and that really helped me last season. And I’m gonna be that same player, same person, same figure for them," he said.
(With reports from Julio Gabriel, One Sports Digital)
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