Pinoy jr cagers strut stuff before Yao, NBA legends

BEIJING – Filipino Jr. NBAers SJ Belangel, Vince Leo Dolando, David Umadhay, Rhayyan Amsali and Luigi Velasco made quite an impression as they slugged it out with select students of the NBA Yao School in a pair of pick-up games highlighting the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA All Stars here yesterday.

The five youngsters strutted their wares in front of Yao Ming himself along with former NBA stars Sam Perkins, Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic during the friendly games spread over 15-minute halves at the NBA Yao School.

The Jr. WNBA players also had their share of court time with Karl Ann Pingol, Arielle Marie Lanot, MJ Pascual, Roxanne Salvador and Kreecie Bettina Bianohan displaying their skills and talent in a couple of 10-minute halves.

But more than playing against their counterparts from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam and from the Yao School, the Filipinos were thrilled over playing before former NBA greats, including the 7-6 Yao, who played nine seasons with the Houston Rockets and is now owner of the Chinese Basketball League’s Shanghai Sharks.

Divac and Stojakovic, both Serbians who once played together for the Sacramento Kings, came in right after Yao before Perkins, who played 17 NBA seasons, joined the group.

It was a memorable experience for the 70 kids aged 13-15, especially for Pingol, who turned 13 yesterday.

“It was the biggest thing that happened to me,” said Pingol, from Pototan Elem. School in Iloilo.

NBA Asia’s Scott Levy and NBA Philippines’ Carlo Singson also graced the occasion. Singson said future Hall of Famer Shaquille O’ Neal almost paid the children a visit but cancelled the trip at the last minute.

The Phl delegation, whose trip here is bankrolled by Alaska Milk and NBA, are coached by Cliff Andy Tecocan and Pia Dysangco.

More basketball games have been scheduled on the final day of the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA Tour at the NBA Yao School to be capped by a rare chance to watch the Brooklyn Nets and the Sacramento Kings.