Mason Amos makes shock Ateneo-to-La Salle transfer
Mason Amos makes shock Ateneo-to-La Salle transfer
LA SALLE’s offseason haul just had its biggest boost yet.
In a seismic move that caught the UAAP by surprise, Ateneo and Gilas Pilipinas ace Mason Amos will move on to greener pastures, literally, and join the Blue Eagles' arch-rival La Salle.
READ: Mason Amos relishes mentorship from great coaches Baldwin, Cone
Amos' move was first reported by the Tiebreaker Times.
The soon-to-be Taft tower will join forces with ace playmakers Kean Baclaan, Jacob Cortez and Gilas Youth's Fil-Bulgarian hotshot Alex Konov.
Mason Amos Ateneo vs La Salle
PHOTO: Patrick Romero
Shortly after initial reports of his transfer, Amos, who is in Latvia with the rest of Gilas ahead of the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, penned his farewell note to the Katipunan side he once called home.
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"With a heavy heart, I would like to express that you guys (in Ateneo) have been a huge part of my life. I am thankful for everything that we were able to share. I have no regrets having fought by your side. I am thankful that you guys taught me lessons and that we were able to create memories I will cherish forever. I love you guys and that’ll never change.
"I am grateful that I was able to be apart of something bigger than myself," part of Amos' message said. "I will forever be proud to have represented the school and thankful. I love you Ateneo. It may be a goodbye but You will always have a place in my heart."
In his four starts and 15:50 minutes of average playing time in UAAP Season 86, Amos dished out 8.87 points, 3.4 boarsd and 0.93 assist in 16 games played, including Ateneo's fourth-seed playoff win over Adamson and Final Four loss to University of the Philippines.
The 6-foot-7 Fil-Aussie big man finished second in the league in three-point conversion rate (42.86%), sixth in free throw percentage (75.68%; 28/37) and ninth in three-pointers made (27/63; 1.8 per game).
And for Amos, it was a first - and eventually last - campaign with the Blue Eagles he'll forever cherish and soon build on as he begins life as a Green Archer.
"Overall, I’ve done a pretty decent job this year. I know I got a lot to improve on, but you know, the experience is what I really gained this year in my first season. To be able to be in the Final Four on my first season is a blessing already.
"I guess for me personally, my performance this year, I’d say pretty decent," Amos shared in a season-ender ambush interview.
With the UAAP’s proposed rule change on student-athlete transferees, it remains uncertain whether Amos will have at least three more playing years for the Blue Eagles.