ATENEO'S biggest weakness last time out may very well be its strength come UAAP Season 89.
The Blue Eagles have secured the services of 6-foot-7 Jay-M Leal and 6-4 Rene Baterbonia, adding much-welcome size to its short-staffed frontline a season ago.
In Season 88, the blue-and-white relied on one-and-done Kymani Ladi and Nigerian rookie Divine Adili for heavy minutes at the 5 and 4 spots, as it ranked second-last in points in the paint (24.71), fifth in rebounds (43.36), last in blocks (1.86), and fourth in points in the paint allowed (33.0).
Ateneo all over the Philippines
Now, Ateneo will be able to trot out Leal and Baterbonia alongside a more experienced Adili, as well as sophomore forward Lars Fjelvang, another SHS-Ateneo product incoming in Jelomar Rota, and a bit of Andrew Bongo and Shawn Tuano here and there.
READ: Ateneo steps up recruitment by netting Palaro MVP, 3 Davaoenos
Leal, age 18, averaged 13.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in the Blue Eaglets' return to the UAAP juniors Final Four, while 17-year-old Baterbonia impressed for Off-Campus Residences x Toyomoto with norms of 15.5 markers and 12.8 boards in the 2026 NBTC National Finals.
Leal was also No. 13 in the NBTC's annual rankings of the top 24 under-19 players in the Philippines, as Baterbonia joined him in the All-Star Game for his stellar play from the Mindanao regionals all the way to Madness in MOA.
Even better, these commitments signal the unification of Ateneo's programs nationwide, with Leal, Rota, and Baterbonia coming from their Manila, Cebu, and Davao campuses, respectively.
The two are the latest gets for a Katipunan side still celebrating the commitment of Kieffer Alas to join forces with Jared Bahay.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
