Ateneo’s Lebron Nieto staying positive after season-ending injury

Original photo source: UAAP Media Team

Ateneo Blue Eagle Lebron Nieto will be sidelined for UAAP Season 87 after suffering a partial ACL tear in his knee, he confirmed to ALL-STAR Magazine on Tuesday, September 3.

The sophomore student-athlete will have to wait another year before playing in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament but remains positive despite the prospect of a long and taxing recovery process ahead of him.

“Right now I’m just trying to stay positive and focus on how I can help the team this season with me not being able to play,” he said in an exclusive interview.

“My mindset lang for recovery is to take it one step at a time, and I know that I can comeback from this. Sabi nga nila, ‘Minor setback for a major comeback,’ but of course I will have to put in twice as much work for me to be able to come back stronger.”

Lebron, the younger brother of Ateneo legends Mike and Matt Nieto, played sparingly as a rookie in Season 86, but is one of the UAAP’s best up-and-coming shooters in the league. He will be missed by a Blue Eagles roster that recently lost the likes of Mason Amos, Raffy Celis, and Kobe Demisana. Veterans Kai Ballungay, who is now in the PBA, and Jared Brown departed following the 2023 season.

“Luckily, I know that I am not alone in this journey since I have my family and my teammates and coaches behind my back,” shared Nieto, who figures to still be part of Ateneo’s long-term future. He is also another product of Ateneo’s successful high school program.

The Blue Eagles opens their UAAP Season 87 campaign against title contender University of the Philippines on Saturday, September 7.