Romwel Anzures

Ateneo de Manila University’s one-and-done recruit for UAAP Season 88 Kymani Ladi. Photo by Shayne Lee Andreas Macaraeg, ABS-CBN News Intern.

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ABS-CBN News

<div><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/1758021550072UAAP MBB - ATENEO vs ADU - Sean Quitevis and Chris Koon -68.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Former Ateneo Blue Eagles Sean Quitevis (#24) and Chris Koon (#6) in UAAP Season 87. Photo from UAAP Media."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Former Ateneo Blue Eagles Sean Quitevis (#24) and Chris Koon (#6) in UAAP Season 87. <em>Photo from UAAP Media.</em></span></span></span>MANILA — After being grounded in UAAP men’s basketball last year, Ateneo de Manila University eyes to regain its wings in the upcoming Season 88.</div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/9/15/uaap-tab-baldwin-on-contract-extension-with-ateneo-the-talks-are-positive-1528"><strong>READ: Tab Baldwin on contract extension with Ateneo — ‘The talks are positive’</strong></a></div><p>The Blue Eagles, four-time champions in five finals appearances from 2017 until 2022, absorbed 10 losses and only posted four wins in Season 87.</p><p>This unwanted record resulted in Tab Baldwin’s squad missing the Final 4 for the first time since 2013, or in Season 76 when they settled for tied fifth-place with a 7-7 slate.</p><p>But even with the Ateneans going through uncharted waters last season with ex-seniors Sean Quitevis and Chris Koon leading the way, Baldwin is looking at their campaign as a teacher whose lessons can eventually be used to rediscover basketball glory.</p><p>“Hopefully, the players that played last year have matured from last year’s experience,” the four-time UAAP champ said. “But I don’t think there is any point in being confident or not being confident. We’ve got a lot of guys who are not proven at the UAAP level, but we have a lot of talent. So they need very quick adaptation to the competition of the league.”</p><p>One of those guys is the 6-foot-7 Kymani Ladi, a one-and-done Filipino-American wing from the Bay Area who looks to finally introduce himself to the ever-basketball crazy nation as he honors his Pinoy roots.</p><div>“I never thought that basketball would take me here,” the 23-year-old Ladi, who previously played for Merritt College in the California Community College Athletic Association, told ABS-CBN News. “But I got to visit different places here, and I think it&#x27;s greater to even really be a part of this team and of the UAAP.<strong></strong><br/><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/1758021696451IMG_5858.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Ateneo de Manila University’s one-and-done recruit for UAAP Season 88 Kymani Ladi. Photo by Shayne Lee Andreas Macaraeg, ABS-CBN News Intern."/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Ateneo de Manila University’s one-and-done recruit for UAAP Season 88 Kymani Ladi. <em>Photo by Shayne Lee Andreas Macaraeg, ABS-CBN News Intern.</em></span></span></span><strong></strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Tracing his roots</strong></div><p>For Ladi, while he averaged 14.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 26 appearances during their 2023-24 campaign, his upcoming lone stint with Ateneo is actually his first opportunity to play in the prestigious stage of the UAAP.  </p><p>“I didn&#x27;t play any high school basketball. I just played in leagues like the AAU,” he revealed. “So you know, this is really my first time being a part of a collective and unified team.”</p><p>The Vallejo native also shared that he played baseball and football growing up, and that it is his Filipino side that allowed him to embrace basketball.</p><p>“I started to really fall in love with basketball around middle school. And funny enough, that stuck with me for a while,” said Ladi, whose father is a full-blooded Pinoy from Ilocos, and mother a Stateside Puerto Rican.</p><p>“Growing up, they weren&#x27;t really sure if I was going to be playing basketball. But, you know, my dad would always be with me playing. We would go have, like a family party, and he would always be with me in the backyard just shooting. I think that&#x27;s also really what kind of made me who I am today,” he added. <strong></strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Why Ateneo?</strong></div><p>Ladi revealed that it was even supposed to be earlier than this year when he was supposed to play in the Philippines for the Blue Eagles.</p><p>“Originally, before I went to junior college there, I was supposed to come out here,” he said. “But I think I wasn&#x27;t really ready just yet.”</p><p>He added that he finally moved to Katipunan as he considers this the best time to do so, but the Ateneo players, coaches, and staff would just when on to further justify why it is the right decision to make</p><p>“Once I made that move, I didn&#x27;t regret it,” Ladi said. “I feel like the whole team was very welcoming. A lot of the Season 87 team really helped me make the decision, and I think it was cool to really experience that because they made me feel like it was family already — that&#x27;s why I chose Ateneo.”</p><p>On the other hand, Ladi understands that he is set to play for a Blue Eagles squad that is coming off an abysmal year.</p><p>And while he is eager to become one of Baldwin’s weapons come Season 88 as they look to turn things around, Ladi said that he is also looking at it as a chance to represent one of the most prestigious schools in the country.</p><p>“It&#x27;s different, it&#x27;s very different. Coming from a junior college, it&#x27;s small,” he said. “Now, it&#x27;s a much bigger stage. But for me, I don&#x27;t really see it as a challenge.”</p><p>“I’m not their savior. I just think of it as an opportunity. I need to take advantage of the opportunity, especially for the time that I have. I only have one year to really prove myself and do what I can to make the team successful,” he stressed. <strong></strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Proving his worth for the future</strong></div><p><strong></strong>And speaking about proving himself, Ladi said that his Ateneo stint could help him improve more both as a player and as an individual as he continues with the next chapters of his career.</p><p>“This helps me in not just developing as a player, but developing my character,” he said. “It&#x27;s going to be a journey. Like I said before, I&#x27;ve never really been a part of a unified team. So I think it&#x27;s great to really take advantage of this and get better as a person.</p><p>He even passed on a workout that could have opened the doors for him for a possible NBA Summer League stint, saying that he didn’t want to mess things up with his UAAP eligibility.</p><p>“It was just a small workout, but some coaches invited some players,” he shared. “Ultimately, I still want to be able to play for Ateneo. I don&#x27;t want any issues with eligibility or anything like that. I came here for a reason. I didn&#x27;t want to come here and just go back to the States.”</p><p>Speaking about the next chapters of his career, is Ladi also open to possibly representing the country with Gilas Pilipinas?</p><p>“Unfortunately, I got my Philippine passport last year, during my year of residency,” he said. “So I&#x27;m not entirely sure how that&#x27;s going to play out, but if I get the opportunity and it arises, I would definitely love to.”</p><p>He also talked about the possibility of eventually playing not only in the PBA, but also in the Japanese and Korean professional leagues. For now, however, his sole and main focus is helping Ateneo regain its UAAP glory.</p><p>“I just want to stay loyal to Ateneo, and then finish out my season here,” Ladi said.</p><p>Ladi and Ateneo open their UAAP Season 88 campaign on Saturday, September 20, 2:00 p.m., against Far Eastern University at the University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABhKm0Dhq7QenPbe"></script>

<p>#UAAPSeason 88 Preview | "I only have one year to really prove myself and do what I can to make the team successful again."</p>

#UAAPSeason 88 Preview | "I only have one year to really prove myself and do what I can to make the team successful again."

UAAP: Flight to redemption — Kymani Ladi out to prove self, help Ateneo rise again

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UAAP: Flight to redemption — Kymani Ladi out to prove self, help Ateneo rise again

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 17, 2025 10:00 AM PHT

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Basketball

UAAP

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UAAP Season 88

UAAP Basketball

Ateneo Blue Eagles

Ateneo de Manila University

Tab Baldwin

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