Top prospect Kai Ballungay eager to prove himself in the PBA

Romwel Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);min-height:13.8px"><span></span><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720613068436IMG_4403.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Incoming PBA Rookie and former Ateneo Blue Eagle Kai Ballungay. <em>Photo from PBA Images.</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Kai Ballungay is among the top prospects of the 2024 PBA Rookie Draft.</p><p>The 6-foot-7, former Ateneo de Manila University standout impressed during the Draft Combine earlier today, tallying metrics of a 37.4 standing vertical jump, 39.4 running vertical jump, 407 milliseconds in reaction time, as well as 3.130 seconds in sprint and 12.69 seconds in lane agility.</p><p>The one-time UAAP champion, who decided to forgo his remaining playing years with the Blue Eagles, believes that his athleticism is one of his strongest suits entering the PBA. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/04/23/uaap-kai-ballungay-to-turn-pro-bids-ateneo-goodbye">READ: Kai Ballungay to turn pro, bids Ateneo goodbye</a></div><p>&quot;Something that I take pride in is my athleticism. I think it really separates me from the other attendees in the draft. Something that I&#x27;ve been working on continuously is my vertical, getting faster on the floor, and my laterals. It&#x27;s definitely something that I&#x27;ve been working on,&quot; said Ballungay during the Draft Combine in Pasig City earlier Wednesday. </p><p>He adds that the combination of his height and athleticism has helped him as he transitions to playing at the wing position.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m trying to work on converting my game to more of a wing player, so I think that&#x27;s gonna help, my athleticism and size. I think it will work to my advantage playing in the wing,&quot; said Ballungay, who played at the four spot for the majority of his stay in Katipunan. </p><p>But above all, what Ballungay considers his biggest asset is the experience of playing for such a great program in Ateneo and under Tab Baldwin.</p><p>&quot;Just coming from a winning culture, playing for Ateneo, getting that experience [of playing] for a championship-caliber team, and being able to compete at the highest level — I think that&#x27;s something that would work to my advantage,&quot; he said.</p><p>This is also the reason why he already opted to take the leap and enter the PBA.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m just taking advantage of the opportunity. As an athlete, I&#x27;m just trying to maximize my prime years. After two great seasons with Ateneo, I think it was time to move on to the professional ranks,&quot; while also revealing that playing here professionally was already among his plans originally.</p><p>&quot;I feel like that option was always there. After my second year in Ateneo, I wanted to consider everything that was on the table professionally, but I feel like the PBA is the best fit at this time.&quot;</p><p>However, despite coming in as one of the most-sought rookies on July 14&#x27;s draft, Ballungay maintained that he still needs to prove himself in the PBA.</p><p>&quot;I like to go into every situation thinking that I&#x27;ve got something to prove. People say that I&#x27;m a Top 5 pick, Top 10 pick, so be it, but I&#x27;m still gonna put in work and prove myself,&quot; he ended.</p><p>The draft will be held on Sunday at Glorietta in Makati.</p><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3062030"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script>

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Top prospect Kai Ballungay eager to prove himself in the PBA

Top prospect Kai Ballungay eager to prove himself in the PBA

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 10, 2024 10:37 PM PHT

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Updated Jul 11, 2024 01:18 AM PHT

Read More:

Basketball

ABSSports

PBA

PBA Draft

Kai Ballungay

Ateneo Blue Eagles

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