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| The Jr. NBA Philippines All-Stars for 2019. Ivan Saldajeno |
By Xy-Zha Cabanlong
PASAY CITY — Ten basketball hopefuls which were picked from all over the country are a step closer to their dream of making it big in the sport.
Five boys and five girls were selected during the Jr. NBA
Philippines 2019 presented by Alaska National Training Camp to comprise the
newest batch of Jr. NBA All-Stars and represent the country at the first Jr.
NBA Global Championship Asia Pacific Selection Camp in Jakarta, Indonesia in
June to train with top youth players from the region.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton and WNBA champion Ticha Penicheiro joined
Jr. NBA coaches Carlos Barroca and Natalia Andre and Alaska coaches Jeffrey
Cariaso and Tony dela Cruz to help coach the 80 participants at the Gatorade
Hoops Center and Don Bosco Technical Institute on Saturday and in the boys and
girls exhibition game at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall here on Sunday.
The final day
of the Jr. NBA National Training Camp was highlighted by an exhibition game for former Jr.
NBA All-Stars that was attended by notable alumni including collegiate players
Thirdy Ravena and Janjan Jaboneta.
Two names stood out of the many - the MVPs of the camp: Sebastian Roy Reyes and Dianne Camille
Nolasco.
They lead the All-Star team of young players that would go up against the region's best of the best.
The complete list of players are as follows:
GIRLS
ROSTER:
First Name
|
Last Name
|
Age
|
School
|
Dianne Camille
|
Nolasco
|
14
|
Miriam College
|
Karylle
|
Sierba
|
13
|
Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation
|
Mikylla
|
Taborada
|
14
|
Corpus Christi School Cagayan de Oro
|
Justine Mhyrra
|
Vibangco
|
13
|
Saint Joseph Parish School
|
Princess BJ Marie
|
Villarin
|
13
|
De La Salle Zobel
|
BOYS
ROSTER:
First Name
|
Last Name
|
Age
|
School
|
Henjz Gabriel
|
Demisana
|
14
|
Bacolod Tay Tung High School
|
Joshua
|
Minguillo
|
13
|
-
|
Zhan Paolo
|
Moreno
|
14
|
Xavier University Cagayan de Oro
|
Sebastian Roy
|
Reyes
|
14
|
Nazareth School of National University
|
Lionel Metthew
|
Rubico
|
14
|
De La Salle Lipa
|
Apart from naming the 10 kids that would represent the Philippines in the regional meet in Indonesia, special awards were also given to the players that gave an exceptional work in the duration of the camp.
Gatorade Hustle Awardees Zhan Paolo Moreno and Franchesca
Isabela Buenvenida
Panasonic Rising Star Awardees: Zak Gumaya and Kaye Andrea Vivas
Coaches of the Year: Orlando Estrelles and Precious Jimenez
Alaska Ambassadors: Henjz Gabriel Demisana and Justine
Mhyrra Vibangco
"The kids really are sponges, they try to listen to everything that we are telling them. that's very rewarding because they just want knowledge," said Penicheiro as she spoke to the media after the event.
"The kids really did good today.," Sexton assessed. "Kids in the Philippines has great promise when it comes to basketball. There's no doubt that the sport will continue to be big in this country.
Follow her on Twitter: @_ichbinxyzha
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