Zane Kallos once again proved pivotal for Ateneo de Manila University in the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Basketball Tournament.
The 15-year-old guard from Quezon City delivered an impressive stat line of 18 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, three steals, and one block in 32 minutes.
And he helped Ateneo build a lead of as much as 25 points before holding off Adamson University, 79-73, last Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The win marked Ateneo’s third victory of the season, but it came with a sense of frustration, as the team struggled to close out the game.
This frustration was evident post-game, causing Kallos, his teammate Sky Jazul, and their coach Reggie Aromin to be late for the press conference.
Despite the challenges, Kallos remained optimistic, promising that he and his teammates would work harder and improve their performance.
“Siguro po as a team, bibigay po namin yung 100-percent namin lagi sa practices namin di lang sa games tapos magkakasama lang kami,” he said.
As the son of John Kallos – who previously coached the Adamson Lady Falcons and San Sebastian Stags – Zane has grown up immersed in basketball knowledge.
His father’s influence has been a key factor in his development as a player.
Zane also shared how watching standout players under his father’s tutelage, like former Lady Falcons star Mar Prado, has helped shape his game.
“Lagi naman siya nandiyan para i-guide po ako,” Zane said.
“Siguro po nakaka-inspire kasi siyempre magagaling din na players yung nandun sa kanya. Yung mga ginagawa din nila, siyempre kinukuha ko rin.”
With the UAAP season in full swing, Kallos has already emerged as one of the Blue Eagles’ key players.
As the Blue Eagles’ captain, he is expected to lead both on and off the court to ensure the team stays on track toward its goals.
“These two guys are very good players,” Aromin said of Kallos and Jazul. “That’s why they’re here.
“Ako, personally, I rely on them not only on the court but also off the court to make sure that the boys are okay. [Zane] is our captain, [Sky] is one of our youngest. Makikita mo yung disparity ng dalawang to so both ends of the spectrum, covered kami. Very reliable naman tong dalawa.”
