20 Metro Manila, Luzon kids join Jr NBA camp

MANILA, Philippines - Twenty 12-14 year-old kids from Metro Manila and Luzon survived the regional elimination among over 200 participants last March 21 at the Jose Rizal University to advance to the Jr. NBA National Training Camp in April.

The National Training Camp is the high point of the 2009-10 Jr. NBA Philippines Program presented by Hi Smart Multivitamins where eight Jr. NBA camp participants will be chosen at the end of a three-day boot camp and will be named the Jr. NBA Philippines All Stars Team. It will be held in Manila also at the JRU Gym April 16-18. 

The 20 kids – some of them from faraway Isabela Province, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Bulacan, Cavite, with the bulk from Metro Manila – will join the 20 finalists from Cebu and Davao in an intensive, NBA-style training from NBA legend and three-time NBA champion B.J. Armstrong and US Jr. NBA coach Frank Lopez.

NBA-appointed local Jr. NBA coaches and former PBA stars Ronnie Magsanoc, Elmer Cabahug and Cadel Mosqueda will lead the local coaching staff who will run the program with the US NBA coaches.

The NCR and Luzon Jr. NBA camp finalists: Javier Ricardo Consunji, Emilio Puno, Ferdinand Ravena III from Ateneo de Manila, Kyle Carlos, Mark Framil and Jeremiah Vizmonte of La Salle Green Hills,  Alfred Sojulga and Henri Lorenzo Subido of Lourdes School Mandaluyong, Ranbill Angelo Tongco, Hans Sison and Cyle Jowee Lopez of San Beda College, Carl Bueno and Alvin Gerard Ungria of the University of Santo Tomas, Hubert Cani of the University of the East Grade School, Lorenzo Fernando Navarro of St. Francis School, Thristan Laman of Sta Clara School of Antipolo, Shawn Brian Sabordo of the Pateros Catholic School, Noel Joseph Perez of Nineveh Academy of General Trias, Cavite, Arvin Angeles, Jr. of Valenzuela and Lance Villanueva of Marist School, Marikina.

Cebu finalists: Lorenzo Carampatana, Jarek Mercado, Jessineth Stephen Wahing and  Patrick Nigel Go from the Sacred Heart School of the Society of Jesus;  John Agustin Pajantoy and Mitchel Vincent Antigua from the University of San Carlos; Bryan Edward Villaruz and Jorine Cercado from the Ateneo de Iloilo; Kirell Brahndon Montalbo from Taytung High School in Bacolod and Noel Villaceran from the San Roque Child Development School in Lapu Lapu City.

Davao finalists: Henry Asilum  and Jefferson James Roxas of the Holy Child School of Davao, Miguel Competente of St. Paul College, Earl Nicole Hiso, Israel Dave Remolar and Carlo Lino Araguez of Stella Maris Academy of Davao, Miguel Paolo Gancio and Sean Patigue of the Ateneo de Davao, Al Rashid Indin of Daniel R Aguinaldo National High School and Troy Senen Macariñas of EMAR Davao City at the National Training Camp.

 The Jr. NBA participants’ standings in the Cebu, Davao and Manila Regional Selection Camps were determined by their total scores in five skills stations – the Hi-Smart Layup Station, the Hi-Smart Dribbling Station, the Gatorade Shooting Station, the BTV Passing Station and the Mitsubishi Footwork Station.

They were also given vitals checks, tests of speed, stamina, flexibility and vertical leaping ability. The Top 20 who registered the highest scores in the skills stations were the only camp participants who could join the scrimmage. towards the end of the camp. The coaches chose the final 10 in Cebu and Davao and the final 20 in Manila from their performances in the scrimmage.