FORMER La Salle guard Kean Baclaan has flipped the script on the greatest rivalry in collegiate sports, turning former Ateneo foes Kymani Ladi and Dom Escobar into key pieces alongside him with Caloocan in the MPBL.
“Actually, ako talaga yung nag-recruit sa kanila,” Baclaan told SPIN.ph on the heels of the Batang Kankaloo's 89-63 season-opening triumph over Quezon City.
READ: Batang Kankaloo thrills home crowd in red-hot MPBL 2026 opener
“Ako nag-reach out sa kanila. Good addition talaga sila kasi alam na natin kung paano sila maglaro."
It’s a striking shift from studying each other’s tendencies in the UAAP to now maximizing each other as teammates.
For Ladi, the transition started with something as casual as a group chat.
Fresh off the UAAP season and back in the U.S., he found himself pulled into a conversation with Baclaan and Escobar that would ultimately bring him to the MPBL.
“They just sent me a DM and said, ‘Come play, bro.’ I was like, 'Let’s make it happen!” Ladi said, as he debuted with 12 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
“Especially with Dom being my former teammate, it just felt right. We already had the chemistry.”
Even with a late arrival - rushing through licensing requirements just to be eligible - the one-and-done Blue Eagle wasted no time fitting in, already knowing firsthand how Baclaan’s game elevates those around him.
“We complement each other really well. The way he attacks opens up a lot of opportunities not just for me, but for everyone,” he added.
Escobar’s path mirrored that same uncertainty turned opportunity.
“I was waiting on a call when Kean reached out to me,” he shared. “It took a bit of negotiating, but we got it done.”
And what stood out more to him was Baclaan’s belief that’s something unexpected given their past.
“I was surprised he vouched for me because we were rivals in college. That just shows he believes in my craft,” Escobar admitted.
Foes to friends
That belief is now translating into cohesion on the floor, with Baclaan orchestrating a group that no longer sees divides, but advantages.
And then there’s Ladi’s near-miss with a different path.
Before suiting up in the MPBL, the athletic forward had his sights set on playing overseas, with Japan as his probable destination.
But a timely pitch from Baclaan and the rest of the squad changed his course - at least for now.
“We told him, 'Why not come play with us?' With this group, we could be unstoppable,” Escobar revealed.
It took some convincing, but the result is a lineup that now carries both history and potential.
Because for Baclaan, this wasn’t just about adding talent. It was about turning the fire of rivalry into the burning desire for a pro title.
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