After initially committing to University of Santo Tomas, Fil-Am recruit John Abate has finally found a home at University of the East.
The 6-foot-1 guard from Spring Hill College in Alabama had a highly efficient outing in their 72-64 win against UAAP Season 86 semifinalists National University at the Filoil EcoOil 17th ECJ Preseason Cup.
Abate scored nine of his 10 points from three, going a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc on Monday, along with his four assists in only 12 minutes of action.
Abate, the newest Red Warrior is thankful for his time with the Growling Tigers but shares that he finds UE to be the best destination for his future in collegiate basketball.
“UST was a great school, great people, great teammates, I love them,” he expressed.
“I appreciate what they did in bringing me here, halfway across the world. It’s just that UE was a better fit for me.”
Moreover, with a lot of new talent on their roster, he and head coach Jack Santiago hope to figure out how to best utilize their players during this preseason, heading into the UAAP.
“We have a lot of new guys, but we’re playing as a team.
“We still have a lot to work on so we can keep our performance at the best of our ability,” said Abate. “It’s a learning process for us, not just for my players, but also for the coaching staff,” head coach Santiago added.
Additionally, Abate’s adjustment period is not just limited to his entry at UE but also to getting accustomed to how basketball is played here in the country.
“It’s a bit of a new environment. I love the coaching staff. I really appreciate how welcoming they are, especially with my playing style and being able to adapt to how the Philippines plays.”
