Navotas player Algin Andaya earns tryout chance for Gilas U-20 pool

Navotas street basketballer Algin Andaya took a step further toward joining the ranks of his generation's best Filipino players when he was awarded on Sunday a chance to try out for Gilas' U-20 national training pool.

 

Andaya earned Most Valuable Player honors after completing the six-week Rise basketball development program under coach Chot Reyes and assistant coach Jimmy Alapag, organizers of Rise said in a news release.

 

The Gilas tryout slot was the bonus prize for the MVP.

 

The Rise program included strength and conditioning sessions, technical training, guidance from guest coaches and mentors, and application of “elevated training tools, digitally enabled to provide insight into an athlete’s technical performance through speed, shooting and basketball IQ.”

 

A highlight of the Andaya's Rise journey was meeting and playing with NBA superstar LeBron James during his second visit to the Philippines.

Algin Andaya (to the left of LeBron James) poses with the NBA superstar and other participants of the Rise basketball development program.

 

Nike Philippines' Patrick Reyes said they designed the Rise program to "enable and inspire athletes to rise beyond their limits and realize their full potential." 

 

The program had regional scouting tryouts in Dagupan, Manila, Cebu and Davao. and culminated in a match between the final 12 Rise kids and two reserves against a composite team of elite players from the UAAP, NCAA and Discovery Perlas Pilipinas.

 

The 12 Rise players were :

 

#1 Algin Andaya

#3 Roland Patric “Soy” Vinasoy

#7 Kristine “Tintin” Cayabyab

#11 Nelson “Pogi” de Ocera

#13 Dean “The Dean” Fudotan

#14 Kherlie Pino

# 6 Jair Borne Marabe

#17 Jude Luke Bulan

#18 Michael Angelo “Mico” Pingol

#22 Norman “MadMax” Torbelles

#24 John Paul “JP The Fighting Irish” Fernandez

#25 Vincent Patrick Romero

#12 Rossino “Chini” Briana Espinas

#21 John Lester Tobilla

 

On the opposing side were :

 

- Jolo Mendoza (ADMU JRs)

- Gian Mamuyac (ADMU JRs)

- Shaun Ildefonso (ADMU JRs)

- Aljun Melecio (DLSZ)

- Brent Paraiso (DLSZ)

- Martin Romero (DLSZ)

- Thirdy Ravena (ADMU SRs)

- Ricci Rivero (LSGH)

- Allana Lim (PERLAS PILIPINAS)

 

 — ELR, GMA News