Ballungay bids Ateneo goodbye

Kai Ballungay walked away from Ateneo de Manila University shortly after failing to defend their title in Season 86 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines men's basketball tournament.

In a social media post, the Filipino-American forward announced that he will be foregoing his remaining playing years with the Blue Eagles to join the professional ranks.

Ballungay leads the scoring department of Ateneo with 11.38 per game. Unfortunately, he failed to lead the Blue Eagles to the title as they fell prey to a red-hot University of the Philippines squad in the Final Four.

"With strong feelings of excitement, I wish to share that I will be embarking on the next chapter of my journey — transitioning to the world of professional basketball," he said in a farewell note to Ateneo community on Monday.

"The decision to pursue this path was not made lightly whatsoever, and I am glad to bring with me the invaluable experiences and lessons I have gained during my time at Ateneo."

Ballungay thanked his Ateneo teammates, especially head coach Tab Baldwin for what he had done to him inside and outside the court. "Thank you for teaching me what it means to be a student of the game and for illustrating what true basketball is supposed to look and feel like," said Ballungay, who played a key role in Ateneo's march to Season 85 title last year.

The 6-foot-7 Ballungay, who also posted 7.88 rebounds, 2.13 assists and 0.75 steals this season, still has a year of eligibility before formally deciding to leave.