Top high school cagers convene at 'Elite 60' camp

MANILA, Philippines — Sixty of the best high school basketball players throughout the entire archipelago gathered in Manila for the first ever Elite 60 Development Camp held at the Colegio de San Agustin Gym in Makati.

The cagers were selected from three regional camps held in the Visayas (Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu), Mindanao (Xavier University) and Luzon (San Beda College) in the space of three weeks beginning April 22-May 6 under the watchful eye of former Philippine National Youth Team coach Eric Altamirano.

The Elite 60 Development Camp is designed to identify young talent who will be earmarked for the national team.

“The EDC program is designed to give others a chance to be seen when they otherwise will not be noticed. We just have so much talent all over the country. This program will enhance our national teams and provide opportunities and fuel dreams of kids in the provinces,” said Altamirano.

Once in Manila, the 60 players received personalized teaching from noted Australian coach Rob Beveridge, who has coached in his native Australia as well as the Chinese Basketball Association. He is no stranger to Philippine basketball, having served as a consultant during National University’s UAAP Men’s Basketball Championship title run in 2014 and with the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association.

“I believe that Filipino basketball players are among the most talented,” said Beveridge. “Their capacity to learn is incredible. If we can really start them out early with good knowledge of the game this will serve them well as they proceed to the next higher level.”

The players were divided into the Under-18 and Under-16 categories.

The U-18 ballers included Ralph Obeal and Jhonard Ersando from Cavite; Lemwhel Calibo, Carlos Nobleza, and Patrick Joseph Parabuac from Laguna; Edralene Kenneth Lamsen from Nueva Ecija; Andrew Velasco, Andre Benedict Chua, Joseph Joshua Fuentebella, Christian Manaytay, and Alex Visser from Cebu; Milo Janao Jr. and Duff Ross Galas from Cagayan de Oro; Concord Paul Ramas Jr. from Pagadian; BJ Sumugat from Davao; Franz Diaz from Iloilo; Rommel Jan Pampag from Kidapawan; and Harvey Pagsanjan, Jerome Nepomuceno, Daniel Geronimo, Clint Escamis, Rommel Junsay, Joshua Ramirez, JM Lagumen, Joshua Tagala, Lian Barbero, Rhon Jay Abarrientos, Miguel Oczon, Will Gozum and Kenji Roman from Manila.

In the U-16 category, joining the EDC camp were Ralph Angelo Panlilio from Pangasinan; Daniel Coo from Bacolod; Leonardo Villanueva from Zamboanga; Justine Sanchez, Justine Biag, Cris Lawrence Castañeda, and Muro Ami Fermin from Tarlac; Cyrian Boniao and Kent Gelogo from Cagayan de Oro; Rey Tristan Fuentes, Christian Rafael Manulat, Leobert Casinillo, Anskie Espina, Lowell Chan, Michael Jhaye Jordan, and John Edward Aguilar from Cebu; and Darren Sytin, Joaquin Jaymalin, Jonas Salandanan, Miguel Sahali, Gabriel Reyes, Ernest John Felicilda, Jorick Kyle Bautista, King Balaga, King Vinoya, Lloyd Oliva and Jessie Arciaga from Manila.

The three-day camp culminated with an All-Star Game.

Receiving awards from the three-day were the following:

Luzon Most Outstanding Player

U-18 Lemwhel Calibo (Saint Benedict International School in Laguna)

U-16 Justine Sanchez (Maliwalo National High School in Tarlac)

Visayas Most Outstanding Player

U-18 Christian Manaytay (Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu)

U-16 Daniel Coo (St. John’s Institute in Bacolod)

Mindanao Most Outstanding Player

U-18 Milo Janao Jr. (Assumption Montessori School in Cagayan de Oro)

U-16 Leonardo Villanueva (Southern City Colleges in Zamboanga)

National Capital Region Most Outstanding Player

U-18 Will Gozum (Mapua Institute of Technology)

U-16 Ernest John Felicilda (National University)

The Elite 60 Development Camp is an official grassroots program of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas with support from the MVP Sports Foundation.