IN 2017, the Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team (AMBT) welcomed three foreign athletes who entered the University under different circumstances. 6’10” Ivorian Center Angelo Kouame was set to fill the void left by defensive stalwart Chibueze Ikeh despite not being originally scouted by Ateneo. Meanwhile, Greece-born William Navarro played for the San Beda Red Lions before transferring to Ateneo. Rounding out the recruits, the Blue and White brought in New Zealand’s Patrick Maagdenberg after a chance meeting with Coach Tab Baldwin.

While each athlete entered Ateneo differently, they all left home to grab an opportunity to further their basketball careers. However, this came at the cost of leaving their friends and family back home. Combined with the rigors of academics and training, adapting to a new environment became an even tougher challenge. Despite the odds, Kouame, Navarro, and Maagdenberg all found the right balance to thrive in Loyola Heights.

Journey to the Eagle’s Nest

Before arriving in the Philippines, Kouame was not sought after by Manila’s top universities. The Ivorian center was only able to showcase his talents to Ateneo after Kouame’s friend, Aaron Njike, introduced him to AMBT Manager Epok Quimpo. After impressing the coaching staff in practice, Kouame was immediately recruited for his unique size, skill, and talent. Knowing that the Blue and White could provide him with more opportunities than other schools to succeed, Kouame did not hesitate to commit to Ateneo.

On the other hand, Maagdenberg’s unexpected meeting with Coach Tab landed the Kiwi a spot on the Blue Eagles’ roster. Coach Tab originally had his eyes on Edward, Maagdenberg’s younger brother, for the Under-16 Gilas Cadets. During Edward’s first meeting with the master tactician, the older Maagdenberg decided to tag along. That same day, Patrick impressed Coach Tab in a scrimmage, which eventually landed him a spot on the Blue and White’s roster a few months later. For Maagdenberg, the scholarship from Ateneo opened the door to free education and quality basketball training to prepare him for a possible professional career. “I saw Ateneo as the pathway to [succeed],” said Maagdenberg.

While Kouame and Maagdenberg were new to the Philippines, Navarro joined Ateneo after playing three years with the San Beda Red Lions. Before coming to the country, the young Navarro was already participating in competitive youth basketball in Greece. He even earned a spot in the junior team of Panathinaikos—a Euroleague team—after a 53-point outburst playing for his hometown team of Ampelokipoi.

A young teen brimming with talent, Navarro was eventually discovered by Nardy Madrasto, a basketball fan in search of Filipino players abroad. With his help, Navarro secured a spot with San Beda. However, after three years in Mendiola, Navarro was presented with an opportunity to play for Ateneo. Unsure of his next step, Navarro looked for a “sign from God,” and it came while visiting a mall in Parañaque. 

“Ang daming naka-Ateneo shirt pero wala namang game. So nagulat ako, iyon yung sign ko. (A lot of people were wearing Ateneo shirts even though there was no game. I was pleasantly surprised, and that was my sign),” said Navarro. Taking this as the sign he asked for and to avoid any future regrets, he joined the AMBT.

Adapting to a new culture

As Navarro, Maagdenberg, and Kouame found their ways to Ateneo’s hallowed halls, their arrival to the Eagle’s nest came with a few drastic adjustments on their part. For Navarro, he first had to adapt to the preferred language in Ateneo, noting the prominence of English speakers on campus. However, despite the new environment combined with the heavier academic workload, Navarro’s work ethic shone through. The academic pressure in Ateneo was never a problem for him thanks to his hardworking nature coupled with the help of his friends, teammates, and tutors. 

“Iyon yung maganda sa Ateneo, hindi sila nagpapabaya. Madaming tumutulong sa athletes (That’s what’s good about Ateneo, they don’t leave you. Many people help the athletes),” he shared.

Unlike Navarro, Maagdenberg’s adjustment to the Philippines and Ateneo was more challenging. The culture shock was no problem since he was raised with Filipino traditions by his mother, but this did not prepare him for the country’s climate. 

“[The weather] takes some getting used to. [It’s] humid and hot compared to New Zealand where it’s wet and cold,” the hulking big man said. However, by being around others who shared similar experiences of being away from home, he coped better. “The thing that really pushed me through the adversity of wanting to go home was just surrounding myself with people that were on the same journey as me,” he shared.

Another big adjustment that Maagdenberg experienced was the heavier synchronous academic workload of Ateneo compared to universities in New Zealand. “In New Zealand, a lot of things you do in university are done online, and you don’t really consult with your professors as much as you do in the Philippines,” he shared. To overcome this, he began surrounding himself with people he could seek help from, managing his time well, and consulting with his professors more.

Similar to Maagdenberg, Kouame had a relatively difficult time adapting to his new environment. Although homesickness was not an issue as he had been enrolled in boarding schools in the past, the language barrier made the transition difficult. Coming from the French-speaking country of Côte d’Ivoire, Kouame was unable to fully express himself in English. “It was really hard for me because you can’t make friends if you don’t know how to express yourself,” said the star center.

However, throughout his time with Team Glory Be, Kouame befriended Marty Veloso, who eventually became his informal foster brother. “[The Veloso family] were there for me ever since, and I really thank them for that,” expressed Kouame.

In terms of studies, Kouame’s adjustment to Ateneo’s academic standards was also made easier after spending his senior year of high school at the Multiple Intelligence International School. During that time, he would attend a full day of classes while juggling training with both Ateneo’s Team A and Team B.

Despite the experience with balancing academics and athletics, Kouame took some time to readjust his priorities upon his enrollment into Ateneo. University life demanded a balance between celebrating athletic triumphs and submitting class requirements, so he made sure to focus on academics first so that he could continue playing basketball.

A band of brothers

Looking back, Navarro, Maagdenberg, and Kouame all faced different challenges in coming to the Philippines and playing for the Blue and White. Apart from the usual trials of a student-athlete, they endured being away from family and friends and settled down in an unfamiliar place. However, in the end, the people they met and the hard work they put in allowed them to find a home in Ateneo and a brotherhood in the AMBT.