Ateneo got the commitment of another Filipino-American prospect.
Moments after introducing Kai Ballungay, the Ateneo Blue Eagles also introduced Andrew Bongo as another student-athlete that has committed to the school.
Bongo, who is born and raised in Covina, California, stands at 6-foot-4 and plays the guard position.
“I play smart, I play controlled. I try to read every situation. I try to play like Luka. He’s probably one of my favorite players. He plays a little slower but he makes the right decisions and smart plays,” said the 18-year-old who is still getting his documents done.
He is a standout out of Charter Oak High School.
Graduating this year, he will immediately be eligible for the UAAP Season 84 tournament, scheduled early next year.
Bongo has already been on the radar of Ateneo for years but it was Tab Baldwin’s assistant coach Dean Castano that was able to get the two sides to agree.
“Actually we saw him10 years ago when he was like, 9, 10 years old. I used to play with his dad in a Filipino basketball league in LA. And about a year ago, Epok (Quimpo) told me that he’s got taller, about 6’4, 6’5 right now,” said Castano.
“I saw him back in February in the States and watched this game with his dad. He did well both offense and defense so I got really surprised he got taller, and he’s got a complete game and I think he’d be able to contribute a lot in Ateneo.”
Baldwin has high hopes for Bongo saying, “Andrew is a good 6’4, 6’5. And as he describes himself, he doesn’t play the game at a breakneck pace. But everybody out there already knows how I like to coach.”
