Jr. NBA All-Stars fire off US stint

LOS ANGELES – The Jr. NBA All-Star Philippine Team faces off with Maranatha High School in a friendly match marking Day Two of its Jr. NBA presented by Alaska NBA Experience trip here Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

On Friday night, the Filipino boys were to take the Staples Center midcourt in between the first and second quarters of the Los Angeles-Memphis game receiving a cash donation by the Lakers to the victims of super typhoon Yolanda.

After the Lakers-Grizzlies match, they again set foot on the Staples Center floor with a short shoot-around session with some LA players.

Enjoying this great opportunity are Samuel Abuhijleh of San Beda, Vince Ferrer of UST, Miguel Fortuna and Marco Sario of La Salle Zobel, Gian Mamuyac of Ateneo, Paolo Rivero of La Salle Greenhills, Tyler Tio of Xavier School, Pawandeep Singh from Pampanga, Anthony Sistoza from Gen. Santos City and Mahloney Tarranza from Davao

They’re on an all-expense-paid five-day NBA Experience trip in here – their prize for making the All-Star Philippine Team during the National Training Camp finale back home.

Chosen by NBA Basketball Operations coach Sefu Bernard and Alaska Basketball Camp project director Jojo Lastimosa, the Filipino kids showcase their skills here in a tune-up with the Maranatha School team in Pasadena Saturday afternoon.

“It’s going to be a great experience,” said Lastimosa, expecting an acid test by the Filipino boys against the Maranatha Minutemen who compete in the Olympic League, CIF Division IV AA.

“This is the second time the Philippine All Stars play a friendly. Last year in China, the Filipino boys easily got through their tall but unskilled Chinese counterparts,” Lastimosa also said. “Maranatha should be a lot tougher challenge, but the boys should enjoy the experience.”

To call the shots for the team is Raymon Mercader, coach of a Cagayan de Oro high school and college teams named Coach of the Year in the 2013 Jr. NBA presented by Alaska.

Lastimosa, among the PBA’s 25 Greatest Players of all time, said he’ll be there to assist.

Mercader and the boys visit Hollywood and Highland Center in the morning then, after the match, enjoy a movie night and dinner.

The tempo of the NBA Experience was frenetic from Day One with an itinerary including a stroll around the Redondo Beach Pier then the Del Amo Mall.

For the Phl delegation including some parents, guardians and NBA Asia staffers, thrill and excitement goes on in the next four days.

Needless to say, among Jr. NBA’s goal is to connect players, parents, coaches and officials to heighten awareness and participation in youth basketball. Alaska is one with Jr. NBA, thus, it’s lending basketball assets to support Jr. NBA activities.