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| c/o NBA, NBA Philippines |
The NBA launched a new initiative on Wednesday, with the start of the Philippines Qualifiers for the NBA Rising Stars Invitational at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong.
In collaboration with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, seven teams made history as its inaugural participants. Four teams comprise the boys' division, while the remaining three teams are in the distaff side.
Teams will be going through a round robin for the next three days, before the two best teams tangle in the finals on Saturday, May 10, at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum. The best teams on that day will get to represent the country for the competition proper of the NBA Rising Stars Invitational next month in Singapore.
Opening up action on that day is National University-Nazareth School's 70-30 demolition of St. Paul College-Pasig.
The Lady Bullpups opened the game by scoring the first 22 points, before Stephie Contreras converted a triple at the 3:36 mark of the opening period for the Paulinians.
NUNS would cruise on towards finish, relying on their dynamic duo of Aubrey Lapasaran and Zaydhen Rosano to secure the victory. The latter finished with a double-double of twelve points and fourteen rebounds, while also dishing five assists. The former also scored twelve points, while also grabbing seven rebounds and a couple of assists.
Head Coach Camille Escoto shared afterwards, "We’re trying to prepare din kasi yung mga kalaban namin, nag-prepare din. Actually, may practice pa kami later kasi ayaw namin ma-take for granted yung ganitong opportunity."
SPC-P head coach Edsel del Rosario highlighted the experience having his players are having, "Na-excite yung mga bata nung nag-invite yung NBA Philippines. Actually, first time nila ma-experience yung mag-huddle in sa hotel, sama-sama sila as a team, kakain sabay-sabay, yung parang nasa Olympics. Ganun experience nila."
SPC-P will have a final chance of making the finals if they can defeat the third team in the division, La Salle College-Antipolo.
Meanwhile on the boys' side, UAAP sides UST and NUNS took care of things against their provincial opposition.
The Tiger Cubs rode on the hot shooting of John Canapi and Joaquin Ludovice to secure a 93-64 victory over Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu.
Both guards made more three pointers by themselves compared to the Magis Eagles as a team, as Canapi went 7/16 from deep to finish with a game-high 24 points. Ludovice made four triples on his way to fourteen markers.
Lawrence Cinco complemented the two with a near double-double shift, scoring 23 and grabbing nine rebounds.
Canapi says about the importance of being invited to this competition, "Mahalaga po itong liga sa mga batang gustong mangarap na maka-laro sa malaking liga."
Even with the defeat, Magis Eagles head coach Rommel Rasmo remains unfazed. He says, "We really prepared for this, going back to Cebu. We really do our best to compete. We just have to keep going. Now, we still have other games, so we hope that we can survive that. At least, I’m confident that after this first game, I’m sure that we’re settled down now."
Capping off the tripleheader is the Bullpups emerging as 67-52 winners over Ateneo de Davao.
In a tightly contest affair, it took a strong fourth quarter for the UAAP squad to dispatch their Mindanao counterparts.
Ahead by just six heading into the start of the final period, NUNS would break the game open by scoring the first six points of the period to double their lead to twelve, 54-42.
A Jhon Pellegrino triple would somehow stem the bleeding for the Blue Knights, but the Bullpups responded with buckets from Shawn Lucido and Andre Mann to make it 59-45 midway in the fourth as it cruised into the finish with the victory.
Lucido credited their coaching staff for their strong performance, saying, "Every day kami nag-eensayo and syempre, sumunod lang kami sa sistema ng NU at kay coach Kevin."
Ateneo de Davao head coach Jess Evangelio says about their experience, "We will use this as our preparation for us to blend more, have more chemistry, and improve our individual skills and as a team."
Gatorade, in its capacity as the presenting partner of the NBA Rising Stars Invitational, ensures that both the participating players and coaches are very much hydrated. Also supporting the competition as official partners are Energen Champion and vivo, while in its capacity as the official broadcaster, Cignal will be showing the finals of both divisions this weekend on One Sports, NBA TV Philippines, and Pilipinas Live.
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