GIAN Mamuyac and Will Navarro have been key pieces to Ateneo's three-peat in the UAAP.
But coach Tab Baldwin knows that soon, he's bound to lose those players to graduation.
That's why this early, he's already getting a player in the same mold in Josh Lazaro.
"He's a taller Gian Mamuyac, if you will, or a smaller Will Navarro," said the decorated mentor as he welcomed Lazaro, a 6-foot-5 forward from the high school team, to the Blue Eagles.
Lazaro, who still has one year left in his time with the Blue Eaglets, opted to remain in Katipunan ahead of his high school graduation, assuring that he'll remain in blue-and-white once he plays in college.
And more than anything, this commitment gives him the rare chance to be mentored by no less than Baldwin.
"To play for coach Tab, it's a super big honor and opportunity to grow na rin as a player and as a person," he said. "Sabi ni coach Tab nung kinukuha niya ako, di sigurado na Team A ako pero ma-assure niya sa akin na marami ako matutunan at mag-grow ako bilang player and as a person."
Set to debut for the seniors team in UAAP Season 84, Lazaro's arrival will be a more than welcome boost for Ateneo with Mamuyac only having two years left in his collegiate career, while Navarro set to play his final year this season.
It also helps that he checks the athletic gifts Baldwin is looking for when it comes to his recruits.
"Josh fits the profile of a player that I really like personally. It's a personal preference as a coach and it comes down very much to long, active, energetic, and tough," said the American-Kiwi coach. "Josh is a guy that when you watch him play, he's fairly relentless. He pursues the ball everywhere and he's multi-positional."
Other than Lazaro's versatility, Baldwin is excited about the chance to hone the game of the 19-year-old this early, gushing over the potential his newest acquisition brings to the table.
"He's got some development to do on his offensive game and his perimeter shot. But Josh is going to create possessions for the team he plays for and he's gonna get offensive rebounds, he's gonna get steals with his length, and he's gonna cause problems for the opposition," he said.
"Once he gets the required discipline to his offensive game and into his basketball IQ, he's gonna solve problems for his team. And I really like that profile. He's gonna be exciting to work with in that sense."
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