Kai Ballungay showed up just when Ateneo de Manila University had its back against the wall in the finals of the UAAP Season 85 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Falling to score a single point during game one against University of the Philippines, the 6-foot-6 big man out of Stanislaus State produced 15 points, five rebounds, one steal, and one block in 19 minutes of action to be a major contributor as the Blue Eagles forced a game three on Monday.
“Coming into this game, we just wanted to be more physical than we were in Game One,” said Ballungay. “I feel like we wanted to be the aggressors this time and we wanted it first. I think it really showed throughout this game.
“I feel like it’s this tougher mentality that we need to carry with us to Game Three that’s gonna give us this championship title.”
Key to his performance, though, was the intervention of some of his predecessors who visited the Katipunan school’s training session to inspire their successors. Former leaders of the team such as Matt and Mike Nieto, Tyler Tio, Isaac Go, and Gian Mamuyac dropped by to pass on their wisdom to the current Blue Eagles.
Those guys have been part of coach Tab Baldwin’s three-peat dynasty and they had so much experience and insight to share in terms of fighting in the finals.
(C) Tab Baldwin
“I think it really started Monday night when the alumni came and they spoke to the team. It’s really special not only for the team but for myself especially just hearing their stories from the Nieto brothers, (Will) Navarro, all those types of guys,” said Ballungay, who was not able to play with the likes of Navarro, the Nieto twins, William Navarro, Vince Tolentino, and Anton Asistio.
“They were able to instill in me a lot of things they witnessed, things that they experienced in their careers. I really took that to heart and wanted to – like Sean (Quitevis) said – show that type of brotherhood, something that we can live up to from years past,” he continued.
“Game One didn’t go the way I wanted it, the way this team wanted it. Coming into tonight, I just wanted to impact the game in any way I could whether that be on the glass, scoring, whatever it is. I just want to help this team.”
For the third time in the Baldwin era, the Blue Eagles will compete in a game three for all the marbles. They were in a similar situation last season where they lost the first one, won the second, and lost the third to JD Cagulangan’s heroics.
This time, though, Ateneo looks to redeem themselves this time around. Without a doubt, Ballungay will go all out on Monday to help the Katipunan school win it all for the first time since Season 82.
