In the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School Basketball Tournament last semester, Zane Kallos made a statement to the entire 16-and-under field: he’s more than ready to take the next step in his basketball journey.
His decision to join Ateneo de Manila University’s 19-and-under basketball roster is a testament to his readiness for bigger challenges.
Zane, the son of WMPBL president John Kallos, proved his worth for the promotion by bagging the first-ever regular-season MVP award in UAAP Junior High School history.
He averaged an impressive 18.46 points, 13.23 rebounds, 5.15 assists, 1.92 steals, and 0.46 blocks per game, tallying a league-best 95.308 statistical points.
Now, as one of the youngest players on the 19-and-under roster, Kallos embraces a learning role, determined to grow under the guidance of his teammates and the Ateneo coaching staff.
His ultimate goal? To help return the Blue Eagles to their winning ways in UAAP high school basketball.
“Siguro sa ngayon, natututo lang ako sa mga teammates ko tsaka sa mga nakakalaban namin kasi I’m one of the youngest sa team and even sa league. So I think it’s the time to learn lang sa mga teammates ko,” Kallos said.
Ateneo High School’s basketball program has faced challenges in the post-pandemic UAAP era. Missing the Final Four for the first time in school history during Season 85, the team followed up with a 4-10 record in Season 86—the program’s lowest finish ever.
Kallos is determined to do his part to bring Ateneo back into the Final Four, even as the road ahead is filled with fierce competition from reigning champion Adamson University, National University Nazareth School, University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University-Diliman, and University of the East.
“Magco-compete pa rin ako, either way. Yung competitiveness ko, nandoon pa rin. Pero sa ngayon, yung focus ko, nandoon pa rin sa pagtuto sa mga teammates ko. Pero pag pinasok ako ni coach, I’ll be as competitive as I can be,” he added.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
While Kallos dominated the less physical 16-and-under field, his debut in the 19-U division revealed the challenges of the higher level.
In Ateneo’s 80-88 loss to the University of the East last Sunday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan, Kallos played just 2 minutes and 59 seconds, going scoreless and failing to attempt a field goal.
The sheer physicality of the 19-U division was an immediate wake-up call for the young forward.
“Siguro yung lakas ng katawan at yung skills talaga nung mga players nung mga mas older. Grabe yung physicality. I know lalala lang ito as the season goes on kaya that’s just a sign na dapat magimprove pa ako lalo,” Kallos admitted.
Despite the steep learning curve, Kallos remains eager to improve. He looks forward to learning from veteran teammates like Ziv Espinas, Gerard Urbina, and Alfonso Tan, as well as from head coach Ford Arao—a former Blue Eagle himself.
Arao, who has been an assistant coach for Ateneo’s men’s basketball program since 2016 and previously served as an assistant coach for PBA team NLEX, brings a wealth of experience to the team.
“Sobrang excited kasi hindi lang sa teammates ko ako marami matututunan, pero sa mga coaches din, especially kay coach Ford. It will be a big help to me as a player kasi marami pa ako kailangan i-improve,” Kallos concluded.
As he navigates the challenges of transitioning from junior to senior-level basketball, Zane is ready to embrace the grind.
