HELP is on the way for Kacey dela Rosa.
Ateneo has secured two bluechip rookies in Erica de Luna and Candice Udal as it beefed up its roster for the upcoming UAAP Season 88 women's basketball tournament.
Blue Eagles coach LA Mumar confirmed the news as he's ecstatic to add the neophytes to their camp.
"I feel the foundation has been set. And the additions of Erica and Candice is a testament of the growth of the program," he told Spin.ph.
Blue Eagles ready to spread wings with recruits
De Luna set the UAAP landscape ablaze with her historic quadruple-double performance in last season's girls basketball tournament where he registered 32 points, 16 rebounds, 12 steals, and 11 assists in La Salle-Zobel's 114-24 decimation of Ateneo.
The 17-year-old guard would finish the campaign averaging 20.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.2 steals, and 4.8 assists to earn her place in the Mythical Team.
Udal, on the other hand, is a member of the Gilas Pilipinas Women U18 squad which saw action in the 2022 Fiba Under-18 Women’s Asian Championship Division B in Bangalore, India.
The 20-year-old forward last suited up for Junior Lady Archers in UAAP Season 86.
They join Kai Oani in the youth revolution in Katipunan and bolsters an Ateneo squad which fell short in the Final Four the last three seasons.
"We need a deeper bench. Their versatility and skill set will make our team more unpredictable," Mumar said.
"We put pressure on ourselves after three straight Final Four appearances. We really want more and I really think these two can help take us to the next level."
Still in the fray for the Blue Eagles are dela Rosa, who won the UAAP MVP honors the past two seasons, as well as slasher Junize Calago and Nigerian center Sarah Makanjulola.
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.
