LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Fifteen young cagers successfully hurdled the drills of the Jr. NBA Benguet State University (BSU) Regional Selection Camp and head to Manila for the Jr. NBA National Training Camp.
Heading the finalists are Jhuliana Francesca Pagteilan, 12, studying at the San Jose School in La Trinidad; Sarah Abigail Sacayanan, 13, studying at the Saint Louis School Center, High School Department; Silicia Lee Fuscalbo, 14, and Christine Nicole Venterez, 12, both studying at the Baguio City National High School; and Carl Emmanuel Velasquez, 14, studying at the Berkeley School.
The other finalists are composed of Javier Luis R. Jugo, 13, studying at La Salle Green Hills; Czarlo Lorenzo V. Salvador, 12, studying at Ateneo De Davao University; Adrian Chu Tan, 13, studying at Wonderland School; Asher M. Vidal, 13, studying at Cherished Moments School;
Rodge Aldrich Balbao, 13, and Alejandro A. Melecio III, both studying at the Bukidnon Faith Christian School; Alvin T. Collado, Jr.; Crisciona Ann Bagasani, 12, studying at the Immaculate Concepcion Academy; Aretha Belgira, 12, studying at Saint Joseph College, Olongapo City; and Tiffany Jolie Lacsamana, 12, studying at the Palawan State University Laboratory Elementary School.
Jr. NBA coaches led by Coach Carlos Barroca were assisted by 2016 Jr. NBA All-Star and Alaska Ambassador Julian Alfonso Jugo who facilitated drills at various skills stations of the Jr. NBA Regional Selection Camp.
More than 1,100 young ballers aged 10-14 from the North Luzon region and all over the country travelled to BSU to showcase their skills and secure a slot in the National Training Camp of Jr. NBA Philippines 2018 presented by Alaska from May 18-20.
Jugo shared his valuable experience with the Jr. NBA aspirants, inspiring the campers to excel on and off the court.
The fourth and final Regional Selection Camp this year will be staged April 21-22 at Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati, Metro Manila.
Pagteilan, a resident of Ambassador, Tublay, Benguet, is probably the participant having least knowledge of the game and came out with an invitation for the national training camp.
She said her interest in playing basketball was only developed by simply watching his brother play and she just started playing the game lately. She could not mention a favorite basketball player when asked. She credited the BSU Training Camp for enhancing her defense.
Belgira, who came all the way from Olongapo City on an invitation by ex-PBA player Willie Miller, started playing basketball when she was nine. She said she got some pointers during the training to improve her game. She mentioned Kyrie Irving of the Boston Celtics as her favorite player.
Balbao, who almost crossed the entire Philippines all the way from Bukidnon to reach BSU, started playing basketball when he was eight. He said he learned discipline in the BSU Training Camp and mentioned Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder as his favorite player.
By:ARMANDO BOLISLIS
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