Ivan Saldajeno |
By Ivan Saldajeno
PASAY—Tyler Tio revealed three reasons why he chose Ateneo over La Salle and UP, the other top college preferences of Xavier alumni, along with other teams wanting him.
Asked by a few sportswriters on Thursday prior to the NBTC Division 1 All-Star Game, the first of two special high school basketball showcases over the weekend where he will display his talent, the Golden Stallion-turned-future Blue Eagle first cited about the course he wants to take up.
"The course I wanted, which is management economics, is offered there," Tio bared.
He also shrugged off a common notion among top schools of management economics being a tough course and said, "For me, my thinking is that basketball should be secondary to education. You can't play basketball forever."
Also making his decision to attend Ateneo easier is the fact that the "blue blood" is running in their veins right now.
"Both my siblings went to Ateneo, so I guess I was kinda used to the culture, so [it's gonna be an] easier transition for me," Tio revealed.
Lastly, having no less than Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin to call the shots for the Blue Eagles enticed Tio to take his talents to Loyola Heights.
"I knew that at every practice, I will learn from him," he particularly reasoned out.
Meanwhile, he finds joining a guard-heavy Ateneo lineup featuring Matt Nieto, Hubert Cani, Jerie Pingoy, and fellow freshman Jolo Mendoza a challenge but as well an opportunity to prove to everyone that he is now college-ready.
Tio specifically said, "It's definitely gonna be a challenge for me, [but] I think at the same time it's gonna make me a better player. It's a positive for me. I don't look at it as a negative that a lot play my position."
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
Asked by a few sportswriters on Thursday prior to the NBTC Division 1 All-Star Game, the first of two special high school basketball showcases over the weekend where he will display his talent, the Golden Stallion-turned-future Blue Eagle first cited about the course he wants to take up.
"The course I wanted, which is management economics, is offered there," Tio bared.
He also shrugged off a common notion among top schools of management economics being a tough course and said, "For me, my thinking is that basketball should be secondary to education. You can't play basketball forever."
Also making his decision to attend Ateneo easier is the fact that the "blue blood" is running in their veins right now.
"Both my siblings went to Ateneo, so I guess I was kinda used to the culture, so [it's gonna be an] easier transition for me," Tio revealed.
Lastly, having no less than Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin to call the shots for the Blue Eagles enticed Tio to take his talents to Loyola Heights.
"I knew that at every practice, I will learn from him," he particularly reasoned out.
Meanwhile, he finds joining a guard-heavy Ateneo lineup featuring Matt Nieto, Hubert Cani, Jerie Pingoy, and fellow freshman Jolo Mendoza a challenge but as well an opportunity to prove to everyone that he is now college-ready.
Tio specifically said, "It's definitely gonna be a challenge for me, [but] I think at the same time it's gonna make me a better player. It's a positive for me. I don't look at it as a negative that a lot play my position."
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno