Wikipedia

Ato Ular

Renato Ular (born May 4, 1995) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the NLEX Road Warriors of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Ato Ular
No. 5 – NLEX Road Warriors
PositionPower forward
LeaguePBA
Personal information
Born (1995-05-04) May 4, 1995 (age 29)
Tarlac City, Tarlac, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight196 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High schoolPadapada National High School
College
PBA draft2022: 2nd round, 13th overall pick
Selected by the Blackwater Bossing
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–2022Marikina Shoemasters
2022–2024Blackwater Bossing
2024–presentNLEX Road Warriors
Career highlights and awards

College career edit

Ular first played for Tarlac State University, and led them to a SCUAA (State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association) championship.[1] He was then recruited to join the Arellano Chiefs in the NCAA, where he played on their Team B.

Ular was then recruited by Coach Aldin Ayo to play for the Letran Knights.[1] Ayo however, left Letran in his rookie season, and he had limited minutes under Coach Jeff Napa. He did get to compete in the NCAA's Slam Dunk Contest.[2] After his rookie season, he was cut from Team A.[1]

Ular would still be on Letran's reserve pool, representing Letran in another dunk contest.[3][4] He would spend the next two years as an amateur player for the Marikina Shoemasters.[3] He returned to Letran's main lineup for Season 95 after new head coach Bonnie Tan saw him in a tuneup game between Letran and Marikina.[1][5]

Ular started the season with averages of 11.7 points and seven rebounds a game, with him getting a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds in a win over the Perpetual Altas.[6] He then had 19 points, nine rebounds and a clutch block in a win over the EAC Generals.[7] In a win over the JRU Heavy Bombers, he had 17 points, seven rebounds, and two steals.[8] Letran then lost to the Mapúa Cardinals, in which he had 19 points and 23 rebounds.[9] In a crucial win over the Benilde Blazers, he had 20 points on a 75% shooting clip to go along with eight rebounds.[10] He helped Letran get into the Final Four with a double-double of 17 points and 16 rebounds in a rematch against Perpetual.[11] From there, Letran won the Season 95 championship against the San Beda Red Lions.[1]

Ular was set for one more year at Letran.[12] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he wasn't able to play out his final year.[1]

Professional career edit

Marikina Shoemasters (2021–2022) edit

Ular returned to the Shoemasters in the 2021 MPBL Invitational preseason tournament this time as a professional player. He helped Marikina get its first win in the tournament with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds.[13] Marikina then lost its next game despite him posting 16 points and 19 rebounds.[14] In a loss to the Basilan Jumbo Plastic, he had 25 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, a block, and a steal.[15] He was later awarded as the tournament's Defensive Player of the Year as he led the league in rebounds with 16 a game.[16]

Blackwater Bossing (2022–2024) edit

2022–23: Rookie season edit

Ular was selected 13th overall pick by the Blackwater Bossing in 2022 PBA draft.[17] He was one of five Letran Knights taken in that year's draft.[18] He was given a two-year contract.[19]

In his PBA debut during the 2022 Philippine Cup, Ular scored 10 points in a win over TNT Tropang Giga.[20] In a win over the NorthPort Batang Pier, he led with 17 points and five rebounds.[21] He then scored 16 points in a win over the Terrafirma Dyip to lead Blackwater to a 3–1 record, their best start to a Philippine Cup campaign.[22] In a win over the Meralco Bolts, he had a double-double of 19 points and 15 rebounds, including a clutch offensive rebound and putback.[23] In Blackwater's first five games, he averaged 14.4 points and 7.2 rebounds.[24] For his performance, he was awarded Player of the Week, the first rookie to be awarded that season and the first Blackwater player since Bobby Ray Parks Jr. in the 2019 Commissioner's Cup.[25] He then dropped a career-high 34 points along with 10 rebounds as Blackwater won their fourth straight game.[26] His 34 points are the most by any second-round draftee since Jeff Chan scored 34 points as well for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in December 2013. Their win streak was ended by the San Miguel Beermen, who limited him to just eight points and eight rebounds.[27] They then lost to Rain or Shine despite his 13 points and nine rebounds.[28] Despite slipping in the standings, Blackwater still managed to get into the conference's playoffs, where they lost to the Beermen.[29]

Blackwater started the 2022–23 Commissioner's Cup with a 46-point loss to the Bay Area Dragons in which he had 13 points and 14 rebounds (with nine of those rebounds on the offensive end).[30] In a win over Terrafirma, he grabbed 12 rebounds.[31] Blackwater kept losing that conference, despite his efforts, falling to 11th place in the standings.[32] In an overtime loss to Meralco, he had a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds.[33] He then had 20 points and six rebounds in a loss to Barangay Ginebra.[34] Blackwater ended its campaign with six straight losses, failing to make the playoffs.[35]

Blackwater continued to lose in the Governors' Cup, starting with a loss to the NLEX Road Warriors in which he had a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds.[36] They finally stopped their losing streak with a win over the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters in which he had 14 points and 11 rebounds once again.[37] Blackwater then lost to Terrafirma in which he had 10 points and 12 rebounds.[38] In a loss to Ginebra, he had 12 points and 12 rebounds.[39] Blackwater finished that conference 1–10.[40] He did get to compete in the Obstacle Challenge during that year's PBA All-Star Week.[41] He also played in the RSJ Game, contributing 23 points and 11 rebounds for the winning team.[42]

NLEX Road Warriors (2024–present) edit

On February 26, 2024, Ular was traded to the NLEX Road Warriors in a three-team trade involving NLEX, Blackwater, and TNT Tropang Giga.[43]

PBA career statistics edit

Legend
  GP Games played   GS Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

As of the end of 2022–23 season[44]

Season-by-season averages edit

Year Team GP MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2022–23 Blackwater 34 27.8 .491 .217 .800 9.1 .9 .4 .3 11.2
Career 34 27.8 .491 .217 .800 9.1 .9 .4 .3 11.2

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Sacamos, Karlo (September 12, 2022). "How Ato Ular persevered after getting cut from Letran". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  2. ^ Li, Matthew (August 12, 2016). "Haruna finally wins one for Benilde". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Aquino, Alyssa (July 28, 2019). "Letran 'flexes' much improved Ato Ular in hot start". thelance.letran.edu.ph. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  4. ^ Li, Matthew (September 1, 2017). "Lervin Flores puts on a show to bring home Slam Dunk crown". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  5. ^ Lising, Charmie (July 6, 2019). "NCAA Season 95 Previews: Letran aims for finals, Perpetual reboots". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  6. ^ Jacinto, Christian (July 19, 2019). "Stuck in Letran reserve pool for two years, Ato Ular enjoying breakout season". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  7. ^ Malacat, Meilinda Marie (July 23, 2019). "Ular paves way for Letran victory over EAC". thelance.letran.edu.ph. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  8. ^ Leongson, Randolph B. (September 10, 2019). "Ular sparks breakaway as Letran rolls past JRU for share of No. 2 spot". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  9. ^ Li, Matthew (September 13, 2019). "Mapua gets payback, outlasts Letran in 2OT for fourth win". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  10. ^ Li, Matthew (2019-09-24). "Fran Yu nails dagger as Letran fends off St. Benilde for solo third". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  11. ^ Li, Matthew (October 11, 2019). "Letran books Final Four ticket, romps Perpetual". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  12. ^ Leongson, Randolph B. (December 17, 2020). "PBA can wait as big men Jeo Ambohot, Ato Ular staying put at Letran". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  13. ^ Dannug, Jonash (December 13, 2021). "Kyle Tolentino gifts dad Elvis, Marikina win over Laguna in MPBL". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  14. ^ Dannug, Jonash (December 14, 2021). "Alcoriza powers Makati to successful MPBL debut, silences Marikina". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  15. ^ Dannug, Jonash (December 16, 2021). "MPBL: Juico catches fire as Basilan cruises past Marikina to go to 2-0". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  16. ^ Leongson, Randolph B. (December 22, 2021). "Michael Mabulac is named MPBL Invitational MVP". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  17. ^ "PBA Season 47 Rookie Draft results and analysis: Blackwater take Ganuelas-Rosser at No. 1". ESPN Philippines. May 15, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  18. ^ "Letran coach beams with pride as five Knights picked in PBA draft". Spin.ph. May 16, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  19. ^ Ramos, Gerry (May 23, 2022). "Blackwater signs newly acquired Yousef Taha to one-year deal". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  20. ^ "JVee Casio drops 22 as Blackwater stuns TNT". GMA News Online. June 9, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  21. ^ Morales, Luisa (June 18, 2022). "Bossing sink Batang Pier for 2nd PBA Philippine Cup win". Philstar.com. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  22. ^ Terrado, Reuben (June 25, 2022). "In-form Blackwater rips Terrafirma by 37 to start rare win streak". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  23. ^ Bacnis, Justine (June 30, 2022). "PBA: Amer puts Meralco to sleep, lifts Blackwater in thriller". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  24. ^ Ramos, Josef (July 3, 2022). "Tarlac's Ular weaving wonders for Bossing | Josef Ramos". BusinessMirror. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  25. ^ "Ato Ular, first rookie to win Player of the Week citation this season". www.pba.ph. July 5, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  26. ^ Dioquino, Delfin (July 8, 2022). "Blackwater proven right by drafting Ato Ular". RAPPLER. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  27. ^ Ramos, Gerry (July 11, 2022). "Is there a place for Cañete in loaded SMB rotation? Austria weighs in". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  28. ^ Valencia, Justin (July 13, 2022). "PBA: Mamuyac, Nambatac lead ROS rout of Blackwater to stay in playoff race". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  29. ^ Bacnis, Justine (July 27, 2022). "PBA: San Miguel runs roughshod on Blackwater to secure Final Four berth". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  30. ^ Isaga, JR (September 21, 2022). "Bay Area lives up to hype, blasts Blackwater to start PBA Commissioner's Cup". RAPPLER. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  31. ^ Terrado, Jonas (October 14, 2022). "PBA: Blackwater dooms Terrafirma to 21 straight losses". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  32. ^ Bacnis, Justine (October 30, 2022). "PBA: Stockton provides magic spark as Converge sends Blackwater skidding for 4th straight win". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  33. ^ Bacnis, Justine (November 11, 2022). "PBA: Meralco goes 2-0 with McDaniels, escapes Blackwater in OT". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  34. ^ Bacnis, Justine (November 18, 2022). "PBA: Cone notches 1,000th win as Ginebra downs Blackwater". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  35. ^ Dioquino, Delfin (November 25, 2022). "Well-rested Rain or Shine sends Blackwater packing to stay in playoff hunt". RAPPLER. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  36. ^ MICALLER, BEA (January 25, 2023). "Jonathon Simmons, Kevin Alas spark NLEX late in rout of Blackwater". GMA News Online. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  37. ^ Terrado, Jonas (January 27, 2023). "PBA: Blackwater picks up rare win at expense of Phoenix". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  38. ^ Bacnis, Justine (February 9, 2023). "PBA: Jordan the better Williams as Terrafirma beats Blackwater". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  39. ^ Saldajeno, Ivan Stewart (February 19, 2023). "Ginebra trips Blackwater to check skid". pna.gov.ph. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  40. ^ Bacnis, Justine (March 8, 2023). "PBA: Abueva enters 5k club as Magnolia romps Blackwater to stay alive in Top 4 race". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  41. ^ Terrado, Reuben (March 10, 2023). "Dave Marcelo steals spotlight from C-Stan, Belga, rules Obstacle Challenge". Spin.ph. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  42. ^ Tan, Stewart (March 10, 2023). "Adrian Wong stars as Team Greats edges Team Stalwarts in PBA All-Star RSJ Game". Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  43. ^ "TNT acquires Brandon GanuelaS-Rosser". pba.ph. February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  44. ^ [1] Real GM
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