The end of Ateneo’s season also closed the chapter on the UAAP careers of one-and-done standouts Kymani Ladi and Dom Escobar, whose brief but brilliant stints left their mark on the Blue Eagles.
Ateneo’s UAAP Season 88 run ended earlier than hoped, but the final buzzer also marked the end of the journey for two of the Blue Eagles’ one-and-done standouts: Kymani Ladi and Dom Escobar.
Their farewells came just days after Ateneo’s 78–72 loss to La Salle in its final elimination-round outing—a defeat that kept the Blue Eagles out of the Final Four for the second straight season.
Ladi, who quickly established himself as Ateneo’s primary offensive trheat, finished as the team’s leading scorer with 14.3 points and 7.1 rebounds across 14 starts.
In a heartfelt Instagram message, Ladi thanked the school, coaching staff, and the Ateneo community for embracing him during his lone year in Katipunan.
“I want to start off by saying thank you for welcoming me and giving me a chance to represent you. To all the coaches, I thank you for all the knowledge and experience you had to offer. I want you all to know that I’m very appreciative for everything you’ve done,” he wrote.
“To all my fans and the Ateneo community, I thank you for the support you have shown since I’ve been here. I hope you keep supporting me as my basketball journey continues,” Ladi bared.
As Ladi reflected on his time with the Blue Eagles, Escobar offered his own farewell, describing his short stint as a “rollercoaster”—one he embraced without regrets.
Escobar closed out the season as Ateneo’s second-leading scorer, averaging 11.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists.
“My time here was short-lived, but I can honestly say I lived it to the fullest and gave BEBOB my all. I wish I had more time here, but I hope to have made the Ateneo community proud. I’ve built relationships and made memories that I will remember for the rest of my life,” he wrote.
“I’ve learned so much about myself on and off the court… I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. I’m proud to say I’m an Atenean and I will have an eternal love for blue and white.”
Ateneo opened Season 88 with a promising 4–0 start but lost eight of its next 10 games, a costly slide that ultimately forced the Blue Eagles out of contention.
With the season’s close also comes the departure of Ladi, Escobar, fellow one-and-done player Jaden Lazo, and graduating seniors Josh Lazaro and Kyle Ong.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.