2019 edition of #SLAMRisingStars set

The 2019 Batch of #SLAMRisingStars

Some of the best high school stars in the Philippines are back together on one floor, showcasing their talent and skills at the 2019 SLAM Rising Stars Classic

The 2018 edition saw Kai Sotto carry Team Punks to a thrilling overtime victory over Team Hype, a feat that helped him be named as co-MVP in the game.

The 2019 edition looks to be special with the likelihood that Sotto plays his final game before he heads to the United States to begin the next step of his career.

Team Hype

This season's UAAP HS MVP is part of Team Hype this time around, alongside his Ateneo teammate Geo Chiu, La Salle-Zobel's Raven Cortez, and Mapua/Malayan's Jonnel Policarpio to set up their length. This quartet puts Team Hype's bigs at an average height of 6'8".

Backing up such height for Team Hype are a good combo of guards and wings. Leading the way are Forthsky Padrigao of Ateneo and a trio of Red Robins in Dan Arches, Paolo Hernandez, and Clint Escamis. Completing the team are a couple of Adamson Baby Falcons in Adam Doria and Joem Sabandal, with FEU's Royce Alforque, JRU's John Amores, and Xavier's Miguel Tan.

Team Punks, on the other hand, will be basking in the recent afterglow of the NBTC.

Leading the way is the core of the best high school team in the country, Nazareth-NU. The Bullpups have three players represented in SLAM Rising Stars: recently named NBTC Finals MVP Carl Tamayo, and All-NBTC members Terrence Fortea and Gerry Abadiano. Fellow Division I All-NBTC members Joshua David and RJ Abarrientos are also part of Team Punks, as well as NBTC All-Star MVP Mark Nonoy of UST.

Team Punks

Two of David's teammates at La Salle-Greenhills, Inand Fornilos and Joel Cagulangan, are also in Team Punks, fresh from helping the Greenies make back-to-back trips to the NBTC National Finals Championship Game. In addition, Lyceum's Mac Guadana helped power the Junior Pirates to the Finals in Div II of the NBTC, and also got him an all-NBTC nod for that Division.

Rounding out Team Punks are a couple of bigs in Bismark Lina of UST and Aaron Fermin of Arellano, as well as Harvey Pagsanjan of UE and Xyrus Torres of FEU.

Coaching Team Hype is Yuri Escueta, while Gian Nazario handles Team Punks. Each team will have a SLAM Rising Stars alumnus acting as an Associate Head Coach.

Thirdy Ravena joins Team Punks, where he played in 2014.

#TeamPunks Associate Head Coach @ThirdyRavenaaa tells us who’s gonna be on his side for the 2019 #SLAMRisingStars 🚨 pic.twitter.com/FV3E6rHS1Z

— SLAM PH (@SLAMonlineph) March 26, 2019

Juan Gomez de Liano joins Team Hype, where he played in 2017.

Associate Head Coach @juan_swish9 reveals the roster of his #TeamHype for the 2019 #SLAMRisingStars! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/0phZQmrCk0

— SLAM PH (@SLAMonlineph) March 26, 2019

Joining Sotto in their final go-around at the SLAM Rising Stars are Abarrientos, Sabandal, Pagsanjan, Fermin, and Nonoy, as these five are set to take the stage as the hotshot newcomers in the seniors division of the UAAP come Season 82. The others will find this an oppotunity to step up their game and show out for their respective upcoming high school seasons when it kicks off in a few months.

The 2019 edition of the SLAM Rising Stars will be on March 31 at Gatorade Hoops Center at 7pm. The game will be shown LIVE on ABS-CBN Sports' YouTube channel.