Another Nieto will once again don the blue and white of Ateneo de Manila University.
Lebron Nieto will remain with the Blue Eagles program as he has formally committed to the Katipunan school.
Though glad that the team has accepted him, Nieto stresses that it’s one thing to be an Atenean but he still has to earn being a Blue Eagle.
“Growing up, I always watched my brothers (Matt and Mike) play for the Blue and White in the UAAP, so it was a big dream of mine to play and win for Ateneo as well,” Lebron said.
“But to people saying that it was my destiny to be a Blue Eagle, I understand that many were expecting me to become a Blue Eagle, but to me, being a Blue Eagle is something that is earned – one that I worked hard for every day.
“So, I am very happy that I have been given the opportunity to play for the Blue and White, just like my father (Jet), brothers, and sister (Shawntel) did. Nothing was given easily, and I worked hard to showcase that I, too, can become a Blue Eagle and hopefully bring glory to Ateneo in the same way they did,” continued the Ateneo High School standout.
Lebron will be the fifth Nieto to play for the Blue Eagles.
Dr. Jet was part of the Ateneo team that won back-to-back UAAP men’s basketball crowns from Seasons 50-51 while twins Matt and Mike had huge roles during the school’s three-peat from Season 80-82.
Meanwhile, Shawntel was part of the Ateneo women’s badminton team that notched a back-to-back from Seasons 75-76.
He joins Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu’s Raffy Celis and Michael Asoro as Eagles who have opted to remain in the Ateneo system/ Gilas Youth standouts Mason Amos and Kyle Gamber are also part of Ateneo’s recruitment class for 2023.
