IF THERE is one thing to be excited for while the courts and arenas are quiet, it is the relentless recruitment of the Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team. Due to the graduation of key veterans Thirdy Ravena, Mike and Matt Nieto, Isaac Go, and Adrian Wong, the Blue Eagles’ new recruits have big shoes to fill and a legacy to continue. As they familiarize themselves with the new environment, newcomers Chris Koon, Gabriel Gomez, and Dave Ildefonso have a tall task of balancing both academic and athletic responsibilities in the online setting.

The European big shot

Despite learning basketball abroad, Gomez opted to return to the Philippines and explore basketball as a Blue Eagle.

As one of the top young Filipino guards in Italy, Gomez came to Ateneo and embraced the challenge of learning Philippine basketball atop his European experience. The 20-year-old Filipino-Italian guard was exposed to different sporting leagues in Italy, developing his arsenal and turning him into a capable combination guard. Needing to bolster the team’s backcourt, Coach Tab lured Gomez to Ateneo, and it was a dream come true for the Filipino-Italian guard.

With his familiarity of the European style of play and his exceptional shooting ability, Gomez is expected to fit in seamlessly within Coach Tab’s team-centric system. However, Gomez needs to develop his speed and physical strength to better match the physicality of Philippine basketball.

Although determined to smoothly adapt to a new team dynamic, Gomez is confronted with the difficulties of joining the Blue Eagles in the midst of a pandemic. Without the usual physical and mental conditioning of athletes, Gomez needs to work twice as hard to build rapport with the coaching staff and his teammates on and off the court.

Entering Ateneo as a graduate student, getting used to the University’s rigorous academic standards is an additional challenge. However, with his determination and passion for the game, Gomez is more than capable of adjusting to life in Ateneo.

Taking the alternate route

Another international prospect joining the Blue Eagles is Koon, a 6-foot-5 Filipino-American who offers exceptional skill and versatility at the wing position. Growing up in California, Koon was a high school standout who played for the Rolling Hills Preparatory Huskies, averaging 16 points, 6.6 rebounds, and four assists during his senior year.

On top of his impressive individual statistics, the California native is also a proven winner as he propelled the Huskies to three consecutive California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section titles. Koon was also awarded the John R. Wooden High School Player of the Year twice—an award given to players with exceptional performances on and off the hardcourt.

After spending his freshman year in the California State Polytechnic University, Poloma, Koon decided to commit to Ateneo in pursuit of his dream to play in the Philippine Basketball Association and for Gilas Pilipinas. 

“When COVID hit, I think that was kind of a sign, and I looked at the opportunity again. They [coaches] hit me back up, just discussing and not forcing anything. I think that’s why I liked it too. They just want what’s best for me. They presented the opportunity, and I took it. I didn’t wanna miss out on it again,” Koon said.

However, his journey to the Blue Eagles did not happen overnight. First spotted by the Blue Eagles at a high school basketball game in California, Koon impressed Team Manager Epok Quimpo with his excellent basketball IQ and impressive movement off the ball. His play ultimately enticed the Ateneo coaches to recruit him, envisioning Koon as a swiss army knife capable of adapting and fulfilling a variety of  roles for the Blue Eagles.

After arriving in the Philippines last October, Koon began settling into the Atenean life. Having visited the Philippines a couple of times before, the AB Management Economics undergraduate is not a complete stranger to the Filipino culture. Relating to his classmates and teammates is hardly an obstacle if not for the added difficulties of the online setup. With his teammates and coaches supporting him all throughout his adjustment phase, Koon is slowly fitting into the system.

Home sweet home

After playing two years of collegiate basketball for the National University (NU) Bulldogs, Ildefonso’s return to Ateneo came as a surprise to many. The former Blue Eaglet ran the show in NU, being the go-to scorer and primary playmaker of the squad by averaging 14 and 17.4 points in his rookie and sophomore years respectively. However, his outstanding individual performance failed to translate in the Bulldogs’ win-loss record as NU resided at the bottom of the tournament’s standings in Seasons 81 and 82.

With his move back to Katipunan, Ildefonso will once again become a freshman in the classroom but will maintain his third playing year on the court. However, adjusting to Ateneo’s academic standards was not easy for Ildefonoso, particularly in this online setup. Initially, the online setting presented a degree of difficulty for the transferee, but with the values he developed in Ateneo High School like magis, Ildefonso persevered and familiarized himself with Ateneo’s online platform.

Apart from academics, Ildefonso’s integration into the Blue Eagles’ dynamic is another challenge. Being accustomed to running the offense back in NU, Ildefonso has to adjust to Coach Tab Baldwin’s “no star player” system that features heavy on-ball and off-ball movements. Whether that means running the offense from the top of the key or setting off-ball screens for his teammates, Ildefonso will have to adapt to a different role with the Blue Eagles.

As Ildefonso returns home to Ateneo, his familiarity with the campus and his versatility on the court will prove wonders in helping him adapt to his new team.

The perfect fit

Hailing from different parts of the globe, the distinct approach of Gomez, Koon, and Ildefonso to the game of basketball may vary. However, all three players possess a winning mentality and competitive nature that bode well for Coach Tab’s  team-oriented system. With key veterans graduating, Gomez, Koon, and Ildefonso are ready to step up and continue the Blue Eagles’ winning legacy.