Get to know extra about Ateneo’s one-and-done Fil-Am trio — the all-around Kymani Ladi, burly bruiser Dom Escobar, and fast sniper Jaden Lazo — all making profitable waves within the UAAP Season 88 males’s basketball event
MANILA, Philippines – The Ateneo Blue Eagles toppled even the wildest of predictions within the UAAP Season 88 males’s basketball event after rising to a 4-0 begin, only one 12 months after falling to a historic, bottom-dwelling 4-10 report.
Followers rapidly pointed to Tab Baldwin, the architect behind 4 UAAP championships for the vaunted program since 2017, however in fact, the fiery 67-year-old tactician might solely accomplish that a lot from the sidelines and on the observe courts.
In-game, Ateneo’s fast rise might simply be attributed to the Blue Eagles’ under-the-radar, one-and-done offseason recruits: Kymani Ladi, Dom Escobar and Jaden Lazo.
Comparatively unknown earlier than the brand new season, the trio blasts onto scene with one fascinating win over one other, as Ateneo now regains stable footing for a fast return to the Closing 4.
Kymani Ladi
On the head of the snake is Kymani Ladi, an imposing 6-foot-8 ahead who pulled the curtain exhausting on Ateneo’s “secret” in its first sport of Season 88, as he exploded for 26 factors, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 block in an exciting 86-83 escape of formidable FEU final September 20.
A seasoned veteran out of California’s Merritt School, the 23-year-old Vallejo native has proven zero weaknesses to his sport in 5 video games to date, posting gaudy averages of 17.6 factors on 44% capturing, 35% from three, 93% on free throws, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.6 blocks.
These numbers intently observe with the Puerto Rican-Ilocano standout’s 2023-2024 norms at Merritt, the place he posted 14.9 factors, 7.7 boards, and 1.9 dimes on 42% two-point capturing and 38% from three.
Although ineligible to play as an area for Gilas Pilipinas on account of his late acquisition of a Philippine passport, Ladi is about to affect Pinoy crowds for years to come back, as he has additionally proven curiosity in enjoying professionally within the PBA, relying on the alternatives that come his manner.
Dom Escobar
Breaking hearts on the court docket and profitable many extra off it, Dominic Escobar at present ranks as Ateneo’s second-leading scorer with 10.0 factors on 44% capturing, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.0 steal in simply 22 minutes over his first 5 video games within the UAAP.
Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 220 kilos based mostly on his bio at California State College in Los Angeles, California, the 23-year outdated ahead profiles as a burly bruiser finishing the formidable Blue Eagles frontcourt with Ladi and overseas student-athlete Divine Adili.
Carrying a formidable lineage from Mexico, Italy and the Philippines from each his dad and mom, Escobar now embarks on one other worldwide tour, with Ateneo doubtlessly offering him a golden ticket to a profitable skilled profession right here or elsewhere.
Jaden Lazo
Jaden Lazo quietly comes up because the shock remaining member of Ateneo’s one-and-done trio, with no standout video games to date in what has been a wildly profitable begin to the Blue Eagles’ season.
Make no mistake, nonetheless, Lazo is the unassuming cog that completes the buzzing Ateneo engine with averages of 6.0 factors on 40% capturing, 37% from three on a good 7-of-19 pattern measurement and 1.2 steals on simply round 16 minutes off the bench.
Probably the most telling stat for Escobar’s teammate at Cal State LA, nonetheless, lies on the very finish of the stat sheet: a team-high plus-minus of +52 over 5 video games to date for the 6-foot sniper.
Not Ladi (+9), Escobar (+5), Jared Bahay (+7) nor Adili (-4) come even near Lazo’s type of constructive affect, and that may solely bode nicely for Ateneo ought to Baldwin award extra minutes to his 23-year-old spark plug.
Half of an entire
Although the Ateneo one-and-dones are actually enormous boosts to the Blue Eagles’ speedy resurgence, Baldwin and his veteran trio would be the first ones to inform followers and pundits that they’re all mere elements of a locked-in complete.
Ateneo nonetheless has Bahay, Adili, Shawn Tuano, Joshua Lazaro, Drew Bongo, and even the seldom-used Lebron Nieto and Kyle Gamber all placing within the work to carry the Blue Eagles out of the doldrums and again to acquainted rivalry.
Whereas they’re nonetheless right here, anticipate Ateneo’s trio to take advantage of out of their lone Philippine collegiate alternative, which might solely spell doom for groups anticipating a wider path to the golden peaks. – Rappler.com
