Discovering Cebu's future basketball stars

CEBU, Philippines - Most schools parade their best players when they send teams to basketball tournaments that pit them against the best players from other schools.

Hardly would these tournaments give the budding players the opportunity for exposure and experience that will hone their skills to be more competitive in the field.

Then came two months ago the 1st BTC Cup, the 2009 edition of Thirsty Hoop Jams, that ran for a month at Banilad Town Centre with the support of Nike Athletic Club and Dimsum Break.

It was then a blessing in disguise that the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) banned athletes listed in its tournaments from playing in other sports events.

This leveled the playing field at the 1st BTC Cup, an inter-school 3-on-3 basketball series, as the 18 schools that registered a total of 87 teams sent their budding players.

MVPs

But this was only as far as high school players are concerned. The tournament backed by Cebu Basketball Referees Association (CEBRA) opened the doors for players as young as those below 10 years old.

Indeed, 348 future stars of Cebu basketball played at BTC in a very competitive atmosphere with their families and school mates cheering for them.

All Stars

Other than the MVPs, those among them who made it to the BTC All Stars for their statistical performance and character on court will certainly star in the big tournaments of tomorrow.

At 10-under, they include: Gerard Andrew Mendoza and Kyle Joseph Cabarrubias of SHS-J; Denzel Drazen Sabroso and Cameron Paul Sansan of Southwestern University (SWU); Lance Lemuel Jumao-as and Joules Lei Elniel Perez of Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC); and Mardy Paul Soco of St. Louis School of Mandaue (SLSM).

At 12-under, they are: Anthony Pestaño and Kent John Malazarte of USC-North; Carlo Caesar Ortega and John Martin Galinato of USC-South; Lewis Atillo and Josemaria Rafael Navarro (son of The Freeman’s Rico Navarro) of SHS-J; and Cris Dominic Yap of DBTC.

At 14-under, the promising players are: Arsenio Uy III, Benedict Aliser and Michael Lorenzo Balankig of USC-North; Niko Nemeño and Glenn Paul Carbon of DBTC; and Ogilvie Lorence dela Fuente of Cebu Cherish School (CCS) 1.

At 16-under, they are: Hordon Herbert Evono of ROIS; Rommel John Tariman and Kevin Cañete of SLSM; Joachim Giacobbe Go and Jose Aaron Espina of Springdale; Kerr Neil Belocura of USC-South; and Kenneth Chan of Philippine Christian Gospel School (PCGS).