Pingoy topbills Seaoil HS All-Star Game

MANILA, Philippines — Thirty-two of the best high school seniors in the country will be on show in the second Seaoil High School All-Star Game this coming March 3 at the Ynares Center in Pasig City. The Seaoil High School All-Star Game is the one of the highlights of the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) Finals that is held every first weekend of March.

“The Seaoil High School All-Star Game is once again the premier event to showcase the Philippines’ top high school basketball talent,” said NBTC Training Director Alex Compton. “We are excited to see the best of the best compete against each other on a national stage. These kids are all graduating from high school and not everyone knows about their talent. The Seaoil High School All-Star Game will be their stage.”

Among those participating in this year’s event that is patterned after the McDonald’s All-American tournament are FEU’s Jerie Pingoy, NU’s Ralph Atangan, San Beda’s Ranbill Tongco, UST’s Nicko Bahia, Cagayan De Oro National High School’s John Luna, the University of Visayas’ Paul Desiderio, and St. John’s Institute’s heralded Kib Montalbo to name a few.

In the first-ever Seaoil High School All-Star Game, Mapua’s Ace Basas came out of nowhere to take the Most Valuable Player Award from more heralded players such as then Xavier Stallion Jeron Teng, Mapua Red Robin JJ Alejandro, and San Beda’s Daryl Nazareno. Basas is now with Ateneo.

It was during the tryouts for this event where the University of the Philippines spotted Sacred Heart of Cebu’s Henry Asilum.

Summed up Compton, “Since November of 2012, well over 200 high school teams from all over the country have been competing for the chance to play in the Seaoil NBTC Jr. National Championship. Sixteen teams remain and in the first three days of March, they will compete for the opportunity to be the best high school team in the country. We are grateful to Seaoil and the MVP Sports Foundation for their commitment to these schools, coaches, and young men. Skills are being developed, character is being built, and leaders being raised. Yet on March 3, only one team can be champion.” – Rappler.com