During his stint in the 16-and-under ranks, Zane Kallos was a dominant force for Ateneo High School.
Standing at 6-foot, Kallos averaged 17.43 points, 14.71 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.86 steals in the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Boys’ Basketball Tournament.
Just a few months after his MVP coronation, the son of WMPBL president John Kallos earned a call-up to the Blue Eagles’ 19-and-under squad.
And it quickly became a reality check.
At this level, Kallos could no longer rely on playing power forward. Instead, he was forced to adjust, learning not only how to play guard but how to become a true floor general.
Guiding him through that transition is new Ateneo head coach Bacon Austria.
“Sobrang grateful ko kay Coach Bacon kasi lagi niya akong gina-guide. Tapos, may tiwala siya sa akin — yung ganong klase na player at coach may tiwala sa akin,” said Kallos of Austria.
“I think ‘yon yung pinaka-nagbibigay sa akin ng confidence pag naglalaro ako sa court, kasi binibigyan niya ako ng kumpiyansa. I think ‘yon yung biggest factor.”
Austria understands the challenge all too well.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
During his own high school days, Austria played as a big man for Ateneo despite standing just 6-foot-3. He went on to win the UAAP Season 69 Most Valuable Player award, leading the Eaglets to the championship.
In college, however, Austria had to reinvent himself as a guard — a transition he navigated successfully as part of Norman Black’s Blue Eagles squad that captured a historic five-peat.
Now, Austria is passing on those lessons to Kallos.
With primary point guard Alfonso Tan sidelined by an ACL injury sustained a month before the season, Austria entrusted the 17-year-old with floor general duties.
“I think Zane took the challenge ever since Alfonso got injured. Ang laki ng inimprove ni Zane, I think everyone could see it. When we lost Alfonso, it was against FEU. [Zane] and Q [Molina] had three turnovers against FEU-D in Asiabasket — pinagalitan ko sila noon because they were not ready,” said Austria.
“From September until now, Zane worked on his game, his handles, his passing, his IQ, and his leadership. Props to Zane.”
Kallos, for his part, admitted that the shift in mindset did not come easily.
“That time, for me, yung mindset ko is to score [and] to defend lang. Yon lang yung mindset ko noon. Ngayon, yung pagiging leader, ‘yon yung nagiging challenge sa akin nung start — yung kakausapin ko yung teammates ko at kailangan pinupush ko sila lagi. ‘Yon yung naging initial challenge ko pero na-embrace ko naman na,” he said.
So far, the results have been evident. Kallos is averaging 7.5 points, 8.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds, steering Ateneo to a 2-0 start in UAAP Season 88.
“Hindi kasi niya kami pinagbabawalan sa lahat ‘eh. Hinahayaan niya kami tumira and to just play our game, pero dapat we should still trust in our system. Yun yung mindset ko and namin as players,” Kallos added.
Seeing flashes of himself in his young ward, Austria could not help but beam with pride.
“I think this is a testament of his hard work,” said Austria.
And for Kallos, surrendering to his coach’s vision is a challenge he is more than willing to embrace.
