THERE are plenty of good reasons why Phoenix tabbed former Ateneo forward Kai Ballungay as the No. 4 pick overall in the PBA Draft last month.
Fuel Masters coach Jamike Jarin described the 6-foot-7 Ballungay as someone who plays like Blackwater star and former Gilas Pilipinas mainstay Troy Rosario.
“For me, my description of Kai is he’s a young Troy Rosario. Imagine Troy Rosario when he was 22 years old, he was still playing in the UAAP for the NU Bulldogs. This kid (Ballungay) is 22 playing in the PBA,” Jarin said. “Troy Rosario dominated in the UAAP when he was a fifth-year college student, and he won a championship.
“Imagine him two years from now, he’s gonna be 24 and he’s still eligible to play in the UAAP. So, he’s just gonna get better in the next two years in the PBA,” he added, referring to Ballungay.
Ballungay played a key role in the Katipunan-based five’s title conquest in 2022 and led the team in scoring with 11.4 points, to go with 7.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists this season.
But the Eagles groped for form and wound up with a 7-7 slate after the eliminations before it hurdled Adamson University to catch the last ride to the Final Four in the last cage wars that prompted Ballungay to forego his final year with Ateneo to turn pro.
Jarin said Phoenix is ready to cast its lot with Ballungay.
“He’s just gonna get better in the next two years in the PBA,” Jarin said. “That’s our job as coaches, trainers, teammates, and himself to make him the player that we want him to be.
“We are very positive that he’s gonna be a very good player in the coming PBA seasons.”
The Fuel Masters tapped former Jackson State and Ole Miss standout Jayveous McKinnis as their import in the season-opening Governors’ Cup set to start Aug. 18.
Jarin has guarded optimism his wards can hack it.
“We’re very excited because unfortunately during the last conference we had a lot of injuries,” he said. “We’re coming in very healthy. Tyler Tio’s back in the starting position.
“Raul Soyud is back and healthy also and so are the other players, so we’re really excited in the coming conference.” — With Abby Toralba
