Raw Jr NBA stars show guts

PASADENA – Another fine day and another titillating experience for the Jr. NBA All-Star Philippine Team here.

After watching an NBA game live Friday night, the Filipino boys enjoyed another big treat in their Jr. NBA presented by Alaska NBA Experience Trip Saturday, getting to measure their skills against a tough high school team and getting good raves from the crowd.

The final score was 93-64 in favor of the host Maranatha High School of this city famous for the Rose Bowl and the Rose Parade. But it’s a foregone conclusion considering the Filipinos are aged 13-15 while the Minutemen are mostly high school juniors and seniors at 17 and even 18.

“When they see our team you don’t see them back down. They played tough though we’re a lot taller. And they didn’t stop playing till the end,” said Maranatha coach Tim Tucker.

“They’re very aggressive. They have the confidence. They have a lot of promise because they’re young tough kids,” said Maranatha assistant coach Andrew Gupilan, a Fil-Am from the same school – Eagle Rock High – that produced Mark Caguioa and Alex Cabagnot.

“This Maranatha team is pretty tall. You can see couples of 6-8s, but our team played well against them without a single practice before leaving Manila. Consider that they’re coming from different schools ranged against a team who’ve been playing together already for quite a while,” said Alaska Basketball Camp project director Jojo Lastimosa.

The Filipino boys, the cream of the 2013 Jr. NBA Philippines presented by Alaska, said that indeed it was an experience where they got valuable lessons.

“Try your best to compete, and you’ll always have a chance. You always won’t win, but the important thing is you fight adversity,” said Tyler Christian Tio, an Alaska Milk youth sports ambassador from Xavier School.

“I picked up some pointers from coach Jojo in this particular game. He helped me to make some adjustment and it worked,” said Anthony Sistoza, who topscored with 14 points.

Tio added 11 while Gian Mamuyac and Vince Ferrer contributed nine apiece and Sam Abuhijleh chipped in eight. Miguel Fortuna, Mahloney Tarranza and Pawan Deep Singh helped tend the backcourt while Ricci Paolo Rivero made a good impression with his daring penetrations. Carlo Sario missed the game due to fever.

Proving too tough to handle for the Filipinos was 6-foot-8 Belize native Muusa Dama who collected 30 points and 11 rebounds.

Lastimosa and Gupilan felt the thrill of the Filipino boys.

“It was a great experience for these guys. Not every 14-year-old in the Philippines can have this life-changing, once-in-a-lifetime experience. This is something they will remember for the rest of their lives,” said Lastimosa.

“Coming here, seeing the sights, going up against a high school team here, taken care by the NBA – that’s something you can’t put a price on, or paid for to get it. It’s something given. These guys are blessed,” Lastimosa also said.