Cebu youngsters test mettle in EASL Future Champions Elite cagefest

MANILA, Philippines — From Cebu to the world.

Ten young cagers from Cebu will be representing the city in Hong Kong, as part of the East Asia Super League (EASL) Future Champions Elite Championship. 

The student-athletes competed during the inaugural EASL Future Champions Elite season in Cebu City for eight weeks, and the cream of the crop will play against the top talent from Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR later this month. 

The EASL said that Domenic de Asis, Dwayne Rojo, Venz Nadela, Dereck Wenceslao, Brix Hernando, Kieffer Villarin, Duke Tadlas, Mc Dome de Asis, Kent Labitad and Ian Inocencio will be Cebu’s EASL Future Champions Elite All-Stars. 

“EASL Future Champions primarily looks to identify the strongest pool of basketball talent available. Players are evaluated based on their skill level, basketball IQ, athletic ability and overall potential,” the EASL said. 

“The program also takes into account factors such as attendance and commitment to practices and games, as well as qualities including coachability, effort, teamwork, character and sportsmanship,” it added. 

The Future Champions Elite All-Star tournament is set from July 24 to 26 in Hong Kong. 

A total of 40 student-athletes participated in the camp. 

The program, which was free of charge, trained the players twice a week and competed in regular games as members of four Future Champions Elite teams. 

Former PBA player Joel Co led the program, while the overall curriculum was developed by EASL Future Champions Elite Program head Michael Olson, who previously played professionally in Japan and was part of several coaching staffs across Asia and the San Antonio Spurs' NBA summer league program. 

“Ultimately, EASL Future Champions aims to bring together the best young talent while creating an environment where players can continue to develop both on and off the court.”

Aside from the opportunity to play in Hong Kong, Hernando, Wenceslao, de Asis and Labitad were given basketball scholarships to the University of San Jose-Recoletos “for their play, commitment, attitude and character” during the program. 

“In our very first Cebu City program, four young athletes have already earneduniversity scholarships through their talent, discipline and character. That is the clearest possible sign of what this program can become,” EASL Future Champions director Alexander Atepolikhin said. 

“EASL Future Champions Elite is not only about developing better basketball players. It is about opening real doors for the next generation across Asia.”