Thirty-six young basketball talents from different schools in Cebu City have been formally introduced as the pioneering batch of the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC)-Cebu at the City Sports Club, the other day.
The players named into the NBTC-Cebu are divided into two age brackets:14-15 and 16-17, and will start training February 2 at the University of San Carlos gym.
Majority of trainees in the 14-15 age bracket comes from the University of San Carlos including Chino Uy, Kareem Alocillo, John Vincent Sepe, Sherwin Co, James Neil Sumayang, Kim Jordan Nuneza and Dominic Nazareno.
Surprisingly, Sacred Heart School-Jesuit also got six slots with Joseph Roma, Jerry Seno, Jasper Diaz, Jay Christian and Justin Dela Cruz and Rene Sta. Maria.
The rest of the slots went to Miko Adam Marquez, Clint Munez, and James Regalado of the University of San Jose-Recoletos, Rhaffy Octubre and Edcor Pippoy Marata of the University of the Visayas and Sean Emmanuel Nicdao of Apas High School.
Elmer Mykel Cabahug of Sacred Heart School-Jesuit, second son of former pro Elmer Cabahug, leads the trainees in the 16-17 bracket. The rest are John Michael Abad, RG Rios, Eugene Viagedor and Chobby Dano of UV, Alfred Codilla, Marty John Pearce, Jeff Ryan Alviva, Pelayo Cabanero III, and Leymund Babad of UC, John Philip Delos Santos, Robert Codilla, Sam Jordan Hermosa, and Nilton John Otida of USC.
The two other slots belong to Jaime Henri Babiera of USP and Kongston Virgil Ang of the Philippine Christian Gospel School.
The trainees will initially go through a 1-hour, weekly training until the Holy Week, then will begin a twice a week training until they’ve completed the 60-hour, 4-month training regimen designed by coach Eric Altimirano.
Fernandez also tapped six coaches to assist him during the training. The pool includes Roel Gomez, Calib Gawangon, Rommel Rasmo, Bon Rosito, Sesum Asignar and Rolando Remedio.
“The program is designed to develop great regional basketball players that would excel in the international basketball scene at an early age,” said BAP-SBP Executive Director Patrick Gregorio.