TYLER Tio has committed to join the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP.
The Xavier School standout confirmed he will join the team by posting on his Instagram account a picture of him wearing an Ateneo Blue Eagles shirt with team manager Epok Quimpo by his side.
“On to the next… #OBF,” wrote Tio on his Instagram account.
The 5-foot-11 Tio is one of the coveted high school standouts outside of the UAAP and NCAA, having played for Xavier, one of the finest juniors basketball programs in the country.
Edster Sy, organizer of the Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship (PSSBC) where Xavier also plays, sees a lot of upside in Tio, drawing comparisons to another former Golden Stallion and now PBA player in Chris Tiu, himself an Atenean during his college days before being drafted by Rain or Shine.
“He has a high basketball IQ just like former Xavier Stallion Chris Tiu,” Sy said. “Magaling gumamit ng jab step then long dribble pull-up jumper. He is a high percentage mid-range shooter.”
Sy, however, is most impressed not only by Tio’s ability to score but also his skills to be a point guard.
“What I like most about this kid is he makes his teammates better. Puwedeng mag-1 (point guard) or 2 (shooting guard),” said Sy.
Sy also looks forward to Tio’s match-up with JV Gallego, a fellow awardee of the Freego-PSSBC Outstanding Player plum. Gallego, who played for Xavier’s rival Chiang Kai Shek College in the Filipino-Chinese basketball leagues and is now part of the National University basketball program, can also play the guard positions.
“Excited to see him play in college against another 1-2 combo guard in Gallego of CKSC,” said Sy.
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