With their seniors now done with their service for Ateneo de Manila University, Kai Ballungay is ready to embrace a leadership role for the team in the upcoming UAAP Season 86. He led the Blue Eagles’ title run in the 2023 Bola.TV AsiaBasket Las Piñas Championship against the College of St. Benilde on Sunday, securing a 60-57 victory at the Villar Coliseum in Las Piñas City.
Ballungay was honored with the tournament’s Most Valuable Player Award, having put up an average of 17.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game as Ateneo finished with a tourney sweep of 7-0.
“Last year, I was only a rookie. This year, it’s a role that I really want to continue to build on and be a leader for these guys and with these guys,” the 6-foot-7 forward said. “That’s something that should be called on me to do this year.”
Ballungay, named Best Player of the Game in six of the seven games they played in the tournament, credited his teammates, acknowledging a total team effort for the trophy they added to their collection.
“Coming into the tournament, like I said in most of my interviews, I don’t play for any individual recognition or anything like that. I just want to do my job for this team, and my teammates put me in the position to do my job, so I give it all to them,” he said.
Ateneo closed the elimination round of Season 85 as the No.1 seed, with Ballungay averaging 11.0 points, 5.71 rebounds, and 1.14 assists.
The 21-year-old forward also mentioned that he looks to take his squad’s next two stints for the Kadayawan 2023 Invitational Basketball Tournament and their title defense in the World University Basketball Series (WUBS) as opportunities to know his team better and develop better chemistry with them.
“Continuing to learn more about who we are and our chemistry as a team, I think that’s the most important thing in the next couple of months before the UAAP season,” the reigning WUBS MVP said.
“We’re going to Davao soon. We’ll continue to learn there, and of course, the WUBS tournament,” he added.
The Kadayawan 2023 Invitational Basketball Tournament will commence on August 3-6 at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) Gym in Davao City.
The Blue Eagles will fly to the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan, to defend their crown in the WUBS on August 10-13. (Jose Gabriel Ignacio)
