Mapua’s Basas is MVP of the first Seaoil High School All-Star Game

Mapua’s Basas is MVP of the first Seaoil High School All-Star Game

by rick olivares

Ariel Basas Jr. did a Jeremy Lin when the 5’10” forward from Malayan High School (Mapua) stole the show from the more highly fancied blue chippers in the first-ever Seaoil High School All-Star Game held at the Ynares Center in Pasig City yesterday.

Basas tallied a game best 24 points, seven rebounds as well as an assist and a blocked shot to help the White All-Stars that were coached by San Beda Red Cubs mentor Britt Reroma to help his team win the inaugural competition modeled after the McDonald’s All-American Game in the United States.

The 30 best high school players from all over the country were on display before a sizeable contingent from the provinces as well as supporters of coaching staffs and scouts from Metro Manila.

The players, divided into the White and Blue Teams (the latter coached by National University’s Jeff Napa), were selected by a panel that included legendary high school coach Ato Badolato and Olsen Racela from a field of some 100 aspirants from the NCAA, UAAP, and Tiong Lian League as well as from the provinces.

The White All-Stars took a slim 18-17 lead after the first quarter to post a huge 12-point lead with 34 seconds left before the halftime break courtesy of a Basas jumper. The second unit of Paolo Jabines (Pilgrim Christian College-Cagayan de Oro), Randolph Toriño (Southern City College-Zamboanga), Kim Luis Cinco (University of the Philippines Integrated School), Julius Cadavis (Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu), and Basas dominated their reserve counterparts from the blue team to lead by 10, 47-37.

The Blue All-Stars stormed back into the game behind the much-ballyhooed Jeron Teng (Xavier) who scored 11 third quarter points to come within a point of overhauling the lead, 61-60. But Reroma’s team squelched the rally with Basas pumping in nine fourth quarter points while his Malayan teammate, JJ Alejandro added three points and three crucial assists in the clutch. San Beda high school’s Daryl Nazareno added four points to help the White All-Stars come away with an 87-81 victory.

“Ace (Basas’ nickname) played incredible,” glowed Reroma. “He is living a dream because he showed what he can do in a court full of big names. And hindi siya nabanggit sa anumang usapan pagdating sa recruitment at sa All-Star Game. He deserves the MVP Award.”

Prior to the All-Star Game, expected to make a lot of noise were Teng, who had committed to De La Salle University along with Thomas Torres and De La Salle Zobel’s Gabriel Reyes, Malayan’s JJ Alejandro who will be going to National University, Chiang Kai Shek’s Kevin Baytan, and San Beda High School’s Francis Abarcar. But Basas rose to the occasion to battle the blue team’s behemoth’s Gideon Babilonia and Antonio Bonsubre (both from San Beda College) for crucial offensive boards and points inside the paint.

Basas is slated to move up to Mapua’s senior Cardinal team but his real dream is to play for the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles. “Since I was young, I would always watch UAAP basketball and the Ateneo Blue Eagles. My favorite color is blue. Whether I make their first team or even Team B is fine. I just want to go and study there.”

Basas is a two-sport star for Malayan and only a week earlier, won a bronze medal in the shot put event of the NCAA’s Junior Division track and field competition.

John Boo, Ace Basas, Jeron Teng, Antonio Bonsubre, and Julius Cadavis were named to the Mythical Five.

The Seaoil High School All-Star Game was the centerpiece of the National Basketball Training Center that is now on its fifth year. Named to the Mythical Selection were De La Salle Zobel’s John Boo, Bonsubre, Cadavis, Teng, and Basas.

In the NBTC Finals, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu posted a huge 17-point lead in the third period before the La Union College of Nursing, Arts and Sciences (LUCNAS) came charging back to trim the deficit to four points.

Sacred Heart’s 6’4” center Julius Cadavis powered his way inside to six crucial points in the endgame (including four off the offensive glass) to help the Magis Eagles restore a double-digit lead and an 80-68 win.

SHS-AdC head coach Sai Bacalso was elated with his team’s win, where the Magis Eagles were able to defend their NBTC title. “Back-to-back championships are sweet,” said an emotional Bacalso. “It is never easy. We saw that La Union almost came back and maybe our experience and our seniors like Julius (Cadavis) really pulled through sa clutch. But this is a good feeling not just for our school but for also the whole of Cebu. This is the third straight year that a Cebuano team has won the NBTC. We want to show the entire Philippines that Cebuano basketball is alive and well.”

Cadavis was named the NBTC’s Most Valuable Player.

Seaoil White All-Stars 87 - Basas 24, Boo 12, Valdez 10, Cadavis 10, Nazareno 8, Torino 5, Alejandro 4, Abarcar 3, Cinco 3, Jabines 2, Ramos 2, Baytan 1, Tansingco 0, Luib 0, Ilarde 0.

Seaoil Blue All-Stars 81 - Teng 22, Rubin, 8, Bonsubre 8, Ligad 7, Abatayo 7, Reyes 6, Torres 6, Suarez 6, Nieles 4, Babilonia 4, Napa 4, Villaruz 2, Gabito 0, Suarez 0, Estacio 0.

Quarters: 16-17, 47-37, 61-60, 87-81.

Notes: Coaches, scouts, and team officials from Ateneo de Manila University, University of Santo Tomas, Adamson University, National University, De La Salle University, University of the Philippines, San Beda College, San Sebastian College-Recoletos, Jose Rizal University, and Lyceum of Philippines University were spotted in the crowd. The guests of honor for the Seaoil High School All-Star Game included Rizal Province Governor Jun Ynares, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Sonny Barrios, and San Miguel Corporation basketball consultant Rajko Toroman. 

ABOVE: With Coaches Eric Altamirano and Alex Comptom discussing the selection process for the Mythical Five. It was great being a part of this group handling the media. I loved working with them and grassroots sports development is just something I tremendously enjoy. Thanks, coaches, for the experience. BELOW: With Ace Basas. We had a nice lunch at a nearby KFC with the Ravenas, Anton Altamirano, the son of former UE cager Vernie Villarias, Pilgrim Christian College's Coco Jabines and Basas.