Basketball star Caelan Tiongson is under the spotlight today not because of his basketball moves—impressive as they are—but because of his connection to BINI Aiah.
It might sound surprising to some but apparently, there were speculations of an alleged budding romance between Caelan and Aiah. The athlete was not safe from the questions, but he responded to the inquiries with grace and respect.
Speaking to OneSports, Caelan admitted that he met Aiah through a mutual friend. OneSports reported that Caelan and Aiah go to the same church, hence they are officially churchmates. Other than that, and a comment saying that Aiah is a great person, there was nothing else Caelan told the press.
"I met her [BINI Aiah] through a mutual friend and she's a great person. But I'm not gonna speak on her personal life more than that. She's a great person. That's all I'm gonna say. Love BINI. Big Bloom fan. Love their music," the 32-year-old Caelan emphasized.
Reportedly, dating rumors between the two began after Aiah was spotted watching one of Caelan's games recently. As of writing, no official statement from BINI Aiah has been released.
ALSO READ: BINI Aiah Inspires People To Give Back Through Her 'Aiahdvocacy'
Who is Caelan Tiongson, the athlete linked to BINI Aiah?
1. He is a professional basketball player.
Caelan recently joined the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters under the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). ABS-CBN News reported that Caelan scored (see what we did there?) a three-year deal with the team last July 2024.
2. He stands at more than 6 feet tall.
The guy is a total head-turner not just for his looks but also for his height that's reportedly 6'5!
3. He is Filipino-American.
He was once based in Pomona, California, where he grew up with his Filipino father and American mom. He also finished his studies at the Biola University in La Mirada, California.
4. He was once a hockey player.
Before making waves on the basketball court, Caelan was thriving on the hockey rink. In a report by Spin.ph, Caelan shared how hockey "got too expensive," leading him to pursue basketball.
5. He starred in a docuseries.
Caelan was part of the docuseries called Young Once. According to the series' YouTube channel, it follows college students from Southern California as they go through the kind of lifestyle "that goes against mainstream cultural norms." In this series, he starred alongside his IRL ex-girlfriend, Cassie Randolph.
6. He is a practicing Christian.
Caelan is big on his religious beliefs and it came years after the height of his "party life." In a report via Medium.com, Caelan talked about his faith and how being Christian lightens up his life. "The quote that stuck out to me is that (Jesus) came for the sick not the healthy…I began reading the Gospels over and over again and decided, I’m going to be a Christ follower," he said.
7. One of his close friends is Andre Murillo, husband of singer Tori Kelly.
Caelan is close with Tori Kelly's husband, Andre Murillo. The two have been best buddies for ages—both in life and in their religion. In one of Caelan's IG posts, he even expressed his appreciation for Andre.
