Ateneo de Manila University has nabbed another Fil-Am recruit to boost its revenge tour in UAAP Season 85, securing the commitment of Paul Garcia.
The announcement was made by Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin on Wednesday in a Zoom press conference.
“We’re really happy to announce that Paul Garcia is committed to coming to Ateneo to be a Blue Eagle,” said the decorated tactician.
Baldwin then mentioned that this commitment is “critical” to the Blue Eagles program. They suddenly lost their top point guard in SJ Belangel, who decided to go pro in KBL with Daegu KOGAS.
The 5-foot-11 all-around guard is already eligible come Season 85, where Ateneo will try to take back the championship University of the Philippines got from it. He will have two playing years.
“This is a significant signing to us in light of what has happened last year with our graduations and then the unexpected exodus of SJ Belangel,” said Baldwin. “Bringing Paul in, he’s not just a very, very dynamic point guard but a very well-rounded guard.
“He also has a lot of maturity and experience being a guy that comes in as a college graduate with two years of eligibility,” he added in the virtual press conference also attended by team manager Epok Quimpo and assistant coach Dean Castano.
Garcia has previously suited up for Salisbury University in NCAA Division III for three years. However, it was just not a good fit anymore for the 23-year-old versatile cager.
Then Ateneo came calling.
“I was expecting to finish my (collegiate) career in the States. But the way the season was going, and the way I saw the program was going, I felt like it’s not the best fit for me,” said the newest Blue Eagle.
“And then when I heard Ateneo was interested, that’s when I really ‘yeah this is what I wanna do.’ Because I already knew that their program is really big and I knew about Coach Tab already, so it was just a no-brainer really.”
In his final season with the Seagulls, he normed 4.0 points on 34.5 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from deep, and 70.6 percent from the line in 22 games played.
With Belangel’s departure, the shoes that Garcia is gonna fill in is big but he’s good with it and the pressure that comes with it – including all the past great guards that came to Ateneo before them.
“I’m just gonna do what I have to do to help with the team – I’m aware of all those big names and it’s something I can handle for sure,” said Garcia.
“I’m ready for the moment.”
Garcia has also played twice in the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) in 2017 and 2018 here in the Philippines with FilAm Sports USA alongside Kihei Clark, Kamaka Hepa, and Jalen Green among others.
Ateneo is expecting Garcia to be in the country around late July. He will be part of the Blue Eagles that will play in the World University Basketball Series in Tokyo, Japan.
