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Starting 5ive: Who to watch out for in SLAM Rising Stars

March 9, 2016

As early as now, PBA coaches should be tinkering with defensive strategies to stop these rising stars. Good luck with that.

They are the ones your titos love to hate. “Wala ‘yan kanila Lim Eng Beng dati,” they would say. They are currently the top high school basketball players in Metro Manila, working for a spot in the country’s basketball elite.

Based on the highlights below, they are right on track. These young ballers will showcase their talents at the Third Annual SLAM Rising Stars Classic, which will be held on March 20, 2016.

Pro tip: Remember these names.

ALJUN MELECIO (DLSZ)

 

EVAN NELLE (SAN BEDA COLLEGE-RIZAL)

 

JUSTINE BALTAZAR and JOHN CLEMENTE (NU Bullpups)

 

RICCI RIVERO (LSGH)

 

JOLO MENDOZA (Ateneo)

The showdown between Team Punks, coached by DLSZ Junior Archers assistant coach Gian Nazario, and Team Hype, coached by Ateneo Blue Eaglets head coach Joe Silva, will be played at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong City.

PBA stars Marc Pingris and Troy Rosario will help out Team Punks while Alaska Aces Tony Dela Cruz and Chris Banchero will serve as assistant coaches on Team Hype.

The SLAM Rising Stars Classic will be aired live on ABS-CBN Sports and Action and Sports and Action HD on March 20 at 6:30 p.m. Replay will be shown on March 25 at 10 p.m.

“The SLAM Rising Stars Classic is the graduation ceremony of Philippine high school basketball’s honors class. It is a collection of the most talented, most promising young names in hoops, names that we are certain will become more and more familiar to more and more people as years go by,” said SLAM Philippines’ executive editor Nikko Ramos.