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Ravena, Ildefonso, Chiu give their take on Amos’ transfer from Ateneo to La Salle

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Romwel Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED) </strong>— Mason Amos’ transfer from Ateneo de Manila University to De La Salle University produced a lot of mixed reactions from players from the Blue Eagles&#x27; side.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/7/1/uaap-mason-amos-bids-ateneo-goodbye-1901">READ: Mason Amos bids Ateneo goodbye</a></div><p>Amos&#x27; move, which comes after the Filipino-Australian spent his rookie year in Katipunan, is not unprecedented though it is still rare.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dii"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171992101830520240702-sga-practice-jonescup-MD-9027.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dii" alt="Former Ateneo star Kiefer Ravena. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Ateneo star Kiefer Ravena. <em>Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Former UAAP MVP and Ateneo superstar Kiefer Ravena himself made the jump — albeit his was from La Salle Green Hills in elementary to Ateneo in sixth grade until college — but he said that there are differences between his and Amos&#x27; situation.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">&quot;Neutral lang ako,&quot; the older Ravena said on the sidelines of Strong Group Athletics&#x27; training at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong on Tuesday when asked about his reaction to the development.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">&quot;Wala pang social media noon. Pero [yung transfer ko], malaking tulong ‘yun kasi bata pa ako, so nung lumipat ako from La Salle Green Hills to Ateneo, kinuha ako as a scholar. Nung panahon na ‘yun, malaking bagay na ‘yun. Nakapag-save sila for Thirdy [Ravena] and sa sister ko. That&#x27;s why I made that move, and nangyari din siya sakin at one point in my life,&quot; added Ravena, who was one of the first elementary basketball scholars of ADMU.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">However, the former Gilas Pilipinas guard understands that making that jump will indeed get a lot of hostile reactions.</p><div><br/></div><p>&quot;Siyempre, there will always be a lot of emotions involved. Pag dating sa school, it&#x27;s pride. Yung loyalty mo nandoon. When you transfer from one school to another, there will always be things that will be said, feelings will be hurt, and bridges burned,&quot; said the &quot;Phenom.&quot;</p><p>Still, he is opting to understand Amos&#x27; decision.</p><p>&quot;With Mason, as much as I&#x27;m an Atenean, he has to make moves for his own career. For all the other players, I&#x27;m sure they are all preparing for a bright future ahead of them whether they stay in one school or move to another,&quot; said Ravena.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m not the one to judge wherever they&#x27;re coming from. ‘Di ko naman alam yung story kung bakit sila lumipat. I&#x27;m just there to support their careers, especially the younger generations. Kung ano yung sa tingin nilang ikakabuti ng career nila, then why not,&quot; he added.</p><p>&quot;I made the move also, maybe on a bigger scale, from one professional league to another, because I want to grow, and maybe that&#x27;s what Mason is also thinking.&quot;</p><p>&quot;But then again, in the world of social media, once you put it out there, it&#x27;s always open for different interpretations. So whether some people like it or some people won&#x27;t, once you put it out there, you gotta be ready with everything that comes with it,&quot; he added. </p><p>Meanwhile, Dave Ildefonso and Geo Chiu offered a different perspective.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dii"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171992108956920240702-sga-practice-jonescup-MD-9546.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dii" alt="Former Ateneo big man Geo Chiu. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Ateneo big man Geo Chiu. <em>Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>&quot;Siguro like how everyone feels right now, masakit siya. Medyo may cut siya sa akin,&quot; said Chiu, who played with Amos in Ateneo&#x27;s Final Four campaign in Season 86.</p><p>&quot;But ako, I just try to be in the middle. I get the other side, but I also understand, si Mason.&quot;</p><p>&quot;There&#x27;s so much he&#x27;s going through right now, but siyempre bilang kuya, worried pa rin ako sa kanya. But yun nga, masakit pa rin po talaga siya. &#x27;Di mo siya ine-expect eh,&quot; he added.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dii" style="width:1320px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171992113384720240702-sga-practice-jonescup-MD-9618.jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Ateneo standout Dave Ildefonso. <em>Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>On the other hand, Ildefonso -- who also transferred from one school to another during his time in the UAAP -- explained how Mason could have burned bridges due to his decision.  </p><p>&quot;Ang daming nagpo-post. For me, hindi ako pwede magsalita kasi galing akong NU [National University] tapos nag-Ateneo ako. Baka ma-bash ako na parang ipokrito naman,&quot; said Ildefonso, who played for Ateneo in high school, then saw action for the Bulldogs for two seasons before transferring to Ateneo in January 2020.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/14/20/uaap-why-dave-ildefonso-is-returning-to-ateneo">READ: Why Dave Ildefonso is returning to Ateneo</a></div><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/27/22/uaap-tab-credits-ildefonso-for-seamless-transition">READ: Baldwin credits Ildefonso for seamless transition to Ateneo</a></div><p>&quot;Syempre wala naman akong problema doon sa move kasi as a player ikaw pa rin magde-decide kung saan ka maglalaro and what you wanna do, and syempre the best opportunities for you and your family,&quot; he explained. </p><p>&quot;My only problem lang talaga is kung totoo ‘yung hindi siya nagpaalam. Kasi ang liit kasi ng world ng basketball eh. As a 19-year-old na nasa Gilas ngayon, it&#x27;s a pretty early age to be burning bridges.&quot; </p><p>A source with knowledge of the situation told ABS-CBN News that Amos left the Blue Eagles without first informing the coaching staff. His now-former teammates appear to have been caught off-guard as well, with some of them reportedly unfollowing Amos on social media.</p><p>&quot;Pero I think, he can try and fix it naman eh. It&#x27;s not really irredeemable naman in a way. Mason&#x27;s a good kid and he&#x27;s a good player. Yung ceiling niya talaga is really high. He&#x27;s in the Gilas team for a reason,&quot; said Ildefonso of Amos.</p><p>&quot;I don&#x27;t think yung recent happenings is a reflection of his character. I think he&#x27;s a good kid and player. I think people are reacting that way lang din because of the school that he went to. With all the rivalry [between] Ateneo and La Salle, syempre they are gonna react that way which is understandable naman,&quot; he added.</p><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="3060686"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script>

<p>Mason Amos’ transfer from Ateneo de Manila University to De La Salle University produced a lot of mixed reactions from players from the Blue Eagles' side.</p>

Mason Amos’ transfer from Ateneo de Manila University to De La Salle University produced a lot of mixed reactions from players from the Blue Eagles' side.