A year has passed since La Salle last recruited a sensational rookie by the name of Jeron Teng. This year, it seems like the Archers will again welcome another potential basketball star to gear up for another UAAP bid next year. Visayan star Kirell Brandon ‘Kib’ Montalbo may just be La Salle’s biggest recruit since Jeron Teng.
Though he has committed to play for DLSU, sources say that uncertainties are still present on whether Montalbo is really going to join the Green Archers.
Office of Sports Development Director Emmanuel Calanong explained, “As far as we’re concerned, he committed to come to La Salle then he took the exam so that’s where we are. Basta ang basis namin it’s also a matter of trust.”
Calanong furthered, “I think I would compare it to Jeron’s case last year, that unless they are really enrolled, anything can happen.”
Despite the uncertainties of Montalbo’s Commitment to DLSU, the OSD has high hopes that Kib will pursue a college degree in Taft Avenue.
Calanong assured, “At the very least there is an indication [that Kib will go to DLSU] by the mere fact that they allowed to meet with the managers and signify their intention to enroll in DLSU. We have more or less probably half of the body inside the door.”
Calanong as well as DLSU sports patrons could not resist to compare Montalbo’s case to Teng’s case last year.
He saidd, “If we were to put it with our experience with Jeron, more or less papunta na sa atin because when Jeron indicated that he was going to La Salle more or less yun ang nangyari. Just like Jeron, we respected his decision that he will make a decision at a certain time and he sticked to that commitment. Itong kay Kib I could say it would be the same.”
Kib Montalbo is currently studying at St. John’s Institute in Visayas. His father, Roger Montalbo, is a graduate of La Salle Bacolod, and his mother is a Lasallian, which gives Kib more reasons to choose La Salle.
Just like Jeron, Kib has received offers from different UAAP schools as well as La Salle’s rival, Ateneo.
“In this particular case I think for all the schools who were after Kib, everybody went to the process of trying to recruit him and waited and respected his decision with regards to when he will make a decision,” Calanong noted.
Many schools have already set sights on this player during his high school days.
Director Calanong expressed that he admires the young Montalbo who is said to have a good personality and good attitude towards his academic responsibilities.
“I met the boy he is very nice his commitment to playing, and probably at this stage to play out his college career in La Salle. Academically, he is very good so that’s one other area that we’re proud in recruiting him. He is academically good to survive the rigors of De La Salle,” said Calanong.
Archers Head Coach Gee Abanilla has been known to discipline his players when it comes to academic concerns, even going as far as resting good players who do not perform well in their academics.
