UST acquires Ateneo's Kristian Porter for 2026 season

University of Santo Tomas is set to strengthen its basketball lineup by acquiring Kristian Porter, one of the best young players in the UAAP.

Porter, a 6-foot-5 former Ateneo de Manila University star who averaged 6.6 points and 6.9 rebounds during his rookie season in Season 87, will now play for UST starting Season 89 in 2026 after leaving the Blue Eagles last May.

UST's acquisition of Porter comes as the team aims to regain its top spot in the UAAP following a challenging year and adds another hefty body to their frontcourt rotation along with Gelo Crisostomo, Echo Laure, Michael Mara, Koji Buenaflor, Peter Osang, and Joseph Kumbai.

Porter's move marks the first time he will be playing for a non-Ateneo school, described by him as a tough but necessary decision for his personal growth after expressing sorrow at seeing his Blue Eagles career end in a social media post last month.

The former Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu star will have two years of eligibility left with UST under head coach Pido Jarencio.