Alaxan cage camp aces eye FEU spots

MANILA, Philippines - Two standouts of the Alaxan FR Galing Mo national camp hope to land spots in the FEU team and fulfill their dream of playing in the UAAP.

Cagayan De Oro’s Dan Audris Lagbas and Michael Kent Salado stood out among 50 other contenders in the nationwide Alaxan FR camp at the Unilab gym in Mandaluyong City recently and got invitation to the FEU tryout where they impressed the coaching staff.

“We always knew that these two youngsters have what it takes to excel in this sport, even way back when we handpicked them during the local leg of the Alaxan FR Galing Mo Camp in Cagayan De Oro,” said FEU assistant coach and former PBA back-to-back MVP Johnny Abarrientos.

The cage camp in various provinces in Visayas and Mindanao is an initiative of Alaxan FR as a means to spread the value of hard work among rural youth and help them achieve their dreams.

Many kids dream of playing in the UAAP and Salado and Lagbas are more than fortunate to be given a chance to take a huge step towards achieving this goal.

“Considering the rarity of being offered a chance to play in this level, this opportunity does not only become a fitting reward for all the hard work they put in training but also a unique chance to begin shaping their lives and careers in the future,” said Abarrientos.

Last year, locals from their barangay constructed the Court of Inspiration, a basketball court built entirely by volunteers who inspired by the cage feats of Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codiñera, Benjie Paras, Jojo Lastimosa, Ronnie Magsanoc and Abarrientos.

After their podium finish in the national leg of the Alaxan FR Galing Mo Camp, Lagbas and Salado have agreed to spend their prize money on improving their basketball court.

“The experience we gained from being mentored by basketball legends at the Alaxan FR camp helped us a lot,” the two said in Filipino. “But right now, our focus remains on getting into the UAAP first.”