Bacolod jr cagers make NBA camp

MANILA, Philippines - Five standouts of Tay Tung High School in Bacolod, four from St. John’s Institute and one from Christ the King College in Calbayog City, Samar made it to the National Training Camp of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2015 presented by Alaska.

They will be joined by four Bacolod girls in the national camp along with the other top campers to emerge from the two more regional selection camps set in Davao at the University of the Immaculate Conception on March 28-29 and in Manila at the PICC on April 11-12.

Boys and girls aged 10-14 may still register at www.jrnba.asia/philippines for free.

The first batch of national campers topped a field of 370 aspirants from Negros Occidental and other parts of the Visayas. They include Ralph Allen Cagalawan, 14, Christian Perigua, 13; Kent Dentin Esperagazo, 14; John Dexter Gigantana, 13 and Andy John Villamer, 14 of Tay Tung High School; Andrei Lechoncito, 12, Daniel Coo, 13; Nicholas Steven Pura, 12, and Kurt Coloso, 14, of St. John’s Institute and Kurt Jan Aparri of Christ the King College.

Also making it to the national camp are Karla Sheen Cotejo,13, of Bacolod City College; Dyna Sicil Nieves, 13, of University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos; Luisa Martina de la Paz, 13, of University of St. La Salle and Rodnie Mae Hodilena of Luis Hervias National High School.

The field underwent various tests, skills challenges and basketball drills on the first day of the selection camp with the top 40 advancing to Day 2, which featured more intense drills and basketball team exercises. The top 14 were chosen after the final scrimmage, all of whom exemplified the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA core values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude and Respect.

Heading the Jr. NBA evaluation committee are Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA head coach Chris Sumner, NBA Asia director of Basketball Operations Craig Brown, Alaska coaches Rodney Santos, Eric de la Cuesta and Junjun Alas of Alaska, Raffy Gonzalez and Ish Tiu, Vangie Soriano and Lhen Flormata of Perlas Pilipinas.