Phl U-13 off to grand start in Valle Verde 5 tournament

MANILA, Philippines - The Phl youth Under-13 team, a youth development project aimed to produce top-caliber players for international competitions, crushed Valle Verde II, 96-45, in the cubs division in the opener of the Valle Verde 5 Basketball League recently.

The team, coached by UE Junior Warriors head coach Mark Herrera, is composed of Joshua Santos, Earl Lagaras, Karl Bautista and Juan Carlo Garcia of UE, Fort Dazo and Kean Herrera of Ateneo, Jenver del Lamas and Diego Rodrigo of La Salle Greenhills, Jaime Cabarruz of Southridge, Clint Escamis of San Beda-Alabang, Benjo Maximo of Colegio San Agustin, Stacey Tibayan of Letran, Gian Mamuyac of Lourdes School and Benz Nakpil of UP.

Team assistant coaches are Edwin Ancheta, Benjie Diswe and Wilson Lagaras.

“The boys are fully prepared for this tournament although they are relatively young players born 1999-2001,” said Herrera, who steered the Talk n Text-QC team, now the Jr Meralco Bolts, to five championships in the annual Batang PBA summer tournament.

The Under-13 team is a special project of the SBP under chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas, executive director Sonny Barriors and SBP deputy director Bernie Atienza.