Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Mapua reloads as ex-Gilas Boys big Basti Reyes, Daniel Padilla, Icee Callangan join Cardinals


Mapúa University has secured three solid additions to bolster its title defense in NCAA Season 101 and beyond.

Letran standouts Basti Reyes and Daniel Padilla, along with Perpetual Help’s crafty floor general Icee Callangan, have committed to suit up for the Cardinals.

Reyes, a 6-foot-5 big man, is a product of Goldwin Monteverde and Tom Chua from their time at National University Nazareth School.

He was also a member of the Gilas Boys squad that competed in the FIBA U16 Asian Championship in 2022. However, during his senior year with Letran, he only saw action in three games due to a hyperextended knee.

“First of all po, si Coach Randy (Alcantara) po talaga yung pinakaunang nag-reach out sa amin ng family ko. Kahit na galing po ako sa injury, naniniwala pa rin po sila sa akin na makakatulong ako sa team. Malaking bagay din po siguro yung mga kuya namin kasi halos lahat sila hardworking, kaya sigurado akong maa-adopt ko rin yung mindset nila,” said Reyes.

“And lastly po, siguro kaya hindi na rin ako nahirapan mag-decide kasi kasama ko pa rin si Pads (Daniel Padilla). Since Passerelle days, teammates na kami, kaya hindi rin ganon kahirap yung magiging adjustment ko sa Mapúa.”

Padilla, meanwhile, is a 6-foot-1 scoring guard who led the Squires in points last season, averaging 16.0 points per game, along with 4.33 rebounds, 1.33 assists, and 2.25 steals.

“Magandang school po talaga ang Mapúa. Sa tingin ko, mag-iimprove ako dito lalo na sa training, kasi andyan naman yung mga players na nilolook up ko — like sina Clint (Escamis) at Cyril (Gonzales),” said Padilla, who will sit out Season 101 to complete his Grade 12 requirements.

#ReadMore  Aaron Black makes history as lowest pick to win PBA Outstanding Rookie

Then there’s Callangan, a heady playmaker who posted averages of 7.23 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.23 assists, and 1.08 steals during his stint with Perpetual Help. He admitted that it was a difficult decision to transfer, but ultimately chose Mapúa for the opportunity to grow alongside Escamis.

“Para naman po sa reason kung bakit ko pinili ang Mapúa — first of all po, alam ko pong maganda ang program nila, lalo na’t champion team po sila. Isa pa pong main reason is dahil kulang po sila sa point guard, kaya me and my family decided na mag-commit po kami sa Mapúa,” said Callangan, who is currently part of the Cardinals’ Filoil lineup.

Reyes and Callangan both expressed their commitment to helping Mapúa retain its championship in the upcoming season.

“For me po as a rookie, siguro ang pinaka-goal ko lang ay magawa nang maayos yung role na ibibigay sa akin nila Coach — para maka-contribute sa team at para makuha ulit namin yung championship,” said Reyes.

“Personal goals ko po siyempre ay mas mag-improve at mas gumaling pa bilang point guard. Kailangan ko rin pong mabilis mag-adjust kasi siyempre, iba na ang sistema at environment. So kailangan ko lang pong maging focused at makinig sa mga tinuturo ng coaches at teammates para mas mag-improve pa at mas mag-gel kami as a team. Para sa darating na Season 101, ready na po ako,” added Callangan.

Padilla, for his part, has his eyes set on making an impact starting Season 102.

“Mag-champion. Mahirap man po, pero pagtatrabahuhan namin,” he said.

Written By


You May Also Like

Basketball

As the curtain fell on the NCAA’s centennial season, Mapua University now steps into the spotlight as the host of NCAA Season 101. Building...

Basketball

Mapua University was involved in a bench-clearing brawl against China’s Ningbo University during the final day of the 13th Asian University Basketball Championship on...

Basketball

Colegio de San Juan de Letran, in partnership with Strong Group Athletics, has appointed a championship-caliber coach to chart the future of the Squires...

AU

University of Santo Tomas became the first team from the UAAP Group to clinch a playoff berth in the PlayTime Cares 18th Filoil EcoOil...

AU

Zed Etulle delivered in the clutch to help San Beda snap its losing streak in the PlayTime Cares 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup presented...

Basketball

The prodigal Lion is back. After a decade-long journey across collegiate and professional leagues, Britt Reroma is returning to the den — reclaiming his...

NCAA

Former University of Santo Tomas head coach Kungfu Reyes has been appointed as the new head coach of San Beda Universitys in the NCAA,...

AdU

Far Eastern University needed every bit of Mo Konateh’s dominance to hold off Adamson University, eking out a gritty 68-66 overtime win in the...

Advertisement