22 Jr. NBA All Stars Alumni to play in highlight exhibition match at Jr. NBA National Training Camp

Point guard Henry Asilum of the UP Fighting Maroons will be the captain for
Team Jolas in the inaugural Jr. NBA Alumni All-Star game on April 28.
(Photo by Roy Afable)

Jr. NBA coaches pick players at draft for first-ever alumni game

Basketball aficionados and enthusiasts of junior basketball, led by the National Training Camp qualifiers, will be treated to an exciting basketball match at noon of April 28 during the National Training Camp of the Jr. NBA Philippines 2013 presented by Alaska.

Just before the selection and announcement of this year’s Jr. NBA All-Star team, a total of 22 Jr. NBA All Stars Alumni will show the stuff of why they were the Jr. NBA stars of their various batches in the first-ever Jr. NBA All-Star Alumni Exhibition Game at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

Now University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) standouts in the juniors and senior leagues, these outstanding products of the Jr. NBA program were drafted and divided into two teams Jr. NBA coaches and NBA officials on April 13 during the Manila Regional Selection Camnp held at the Aquinas Gym.

The All Stars Alumni will play for Team Muggsy, which will be coached by NBA Legend and special guest of the Jr. NBA 2013, Muggsy Bogues, and Team Jolas, which will be coached by PBA Legend Jojo Lastimosa, head of the local Jr. NBA coaches.

Team Muggsy which had the right for the first overall draft pick, was represented by Coach Louie Gonzalez, who picked on behalf of the NBA legend. First overall draft pick, Aljon Mariano of the UST Growling Tigers, will captain Team Muggsy. Coach Jojo Lastimosa on the other hand picked Henry Asilum, as second overall draft pick, and the UP Fighting Maroon will be the skipper of Team Jolas.

Other players who were drafted by Lastimosa were Kobe Paras of La Salle Greenhills and Aljun Melecio of De La Salle Zobel. Also on Team Jolas are Tzaddy Rangel of Hope Christian School, Dawn Ochea and Rendell Senining of Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu, Jarell Lim of Xavier School, Thristan Lagman of the UST Tiger Cubs, RK Ilagan of the San Sebastian Staglets, Aldrin Fegidero of the Jose Rizal Univerrsity Light Bombers and Paul Dagunan of the UE Junior Warriors.

Completing Team Muggsy’s lineup are Hubert Cani of the National University Bull Pups, Carlo Escalambre of the San Sebastian Staglets, Roald Mayor, Patrick Ramirez and Patrick Nigel Go of the UST Tiger Cubs, Arnie Padilla, Arc Araw-Araw and Miguel Competente of the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, Camillus Altamirano of the UE Jr. Warriors and Mio Puno of the Ateneo Blue Eaglets.

Muggsy Bogues will arrive in Manila next week, a few days before the start of the three-day National Training Camp slated on April 26-28 at the UP Diliman Gym and at the Mall of Asia Music Hall.

Presented by Alaska, the Jr. NBA Philippines will have a new All-Star lineup at the end of April 28 after the All-Star Exhibition game. Young players from all over the country will gather for three days to undergo an intensive training camp supervised by NBA Legend Muggsy Bogues and Jojo Lastimosa.

In addition to Presenting Partner Alaska Powdered Milk Drink, Official Partners include the NBA’s official sports drink, Gatorade, Unilever’s flagship brands Rexona and Master and new partner, Phoneix Petroleum. Returning as Jr. NBA Supporting Partners are KFC and Spalding. Official NBA broadcasters are Basketball TV, NBA Premium TV and Studio 23. Jr. NBA is also supported by the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines (BCAP).

Official Press Release courtesy of NBA Asia and Larc&Asset PR.