Mapua standout shines in HS all-star game

Unheralded Ariel Basas, Jr. stole the thunder from his more illustrious teammates and opponents in the first-ever SEAOIL High School All-Star Showcase at the Ynares Center in Pasig, besting 29 other junior standouts and bagging the Most Valuable Player award with a good all-round performance.

A two-sport athlete for Malayan High School (Mapua's junior team in the NCAA), Basas scattered 24 points to lead the All-Star White team to an 87-81 win over the star-studded All-Star Blue team in this inaugural gathering of the country's top high school seniors.

Basas, a six-foot swingman who won a bronze medal in the shot put competition of the NCAA's junior track and field event held just last week, also added seven rebounds as he boosted his stock significantly in front of an audience that included coaches from several UAAP and NCAA college teams.

The White Team led by 10 at the half, 47-37, before the Blue team, behind Xavier star Jeron Teng and LSGH's shifty point guard Thomas Torres, rallied in the third to come to within one point, 61-60, heading into the fourth.

But Basas keyed a big run by the White Team down the stretch to preserve the win and impress a number of college coaches who were in the crowd. Basas was ably backed up by John Boo of La Salle-Zobel, who had 12 points, and Malayan teammate Ian Carlo Valdez, who chipped in 10.

The Blue Team was led by the 22 points of Teng, but none of his teammates joined him in double figures. With Teng, Torres, Gab Reyes of La Salle-Zobel and Gideon Babilonia of San Beda, Blue was slightly favored heading into this game, but White pulled through in the end.

This game was organized by the National Basketball Training Center headed by NU coach Eric Altamirano and sought to bring together the best incoming college prospects from all over the country in one venue where they could show their wares in front of college coaches. Even though a number of the players had already committed to different programs, some of the others, particularly those from the provinces, boosted their stock by giving a good account of themselves.

"I was surprised by the provincial players," said Altamirano, who gave props to Paul Razen Rubin of Sun Yat Sen High School in Iloilo, Julis Cadavis of Sacred Heart School-Cebu and Janmer Gabito St. Joseph School-La Salle Bacolod. "They held their own against these Metro Manila players. Pinapakita nila na even if they're from the province they can still play at this high level of basketball."

Rubin had eight points and Gabito had a basket for the Blue Team while Cadavis scored 10 for the White Team. Also impressive was point guard Paolo Jabines of Pilgrim Christian College in Cagayan De Oro, who exhibited good ballhandling and passing skills and exceptional quickness.

Spotted in the crowd were coaches from Ateneo De Manila, La Salle-Taft, Jose Rizal University, Lyceum, San Sebastian, and University of the Philippines.

With so many college coaches in attendance, Altamirano said they achieved the major objective of the game. "These players from all over the country, senior players graduating from high school, they get to showcase their skills in front of all these college coaches. In that aspect, we've met our objectives."

Altamirano added that Basas was a surprise winner of the MVP award. "He came from nowhere, nobody knows him compared to the notable players that are part of the all-star team. He's a surprise MVP today, so I hope that helps him get noticed by the college coaches.

The NBTC, according to Altamirano, will be doing this again next year, with the hope that it becomes an institution in Philippine basketball. For 2013, they plan to expand the pool by inviting foreign-based Filipino players. "Who knows? We might be able to discover the next Bobby Ray Parks. There's a lot of inquiries regarding the all-stars already, so hopefully we can find more players for Philippine basketball."

Joining Basas in the Mythical Five were Boo, Cadavis, Teng and Gabito.

The scores:

All-Star White (87) — Basas 24, Boo 12, Valdez 10, Cadavis 10, Nazareno 8, Toriño 5, Alejandro 4, Abarcar 3, Cinco 3, Jabines 2, Ramos 2, Baytan 1, Luib 0, Ilarde 0, Tansingco 0.

All-Star Blue (81) — Teng 22, Rubin 8, Bonsubre 8, Ligad 7, Abatayo 7, Torres 6, Reyes 6, Nieles 4, Babilonia 4, Napa 4, Villaruz 2, Gabito 2, Yu 1, Suarez 0, Estacio 0.

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