Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Kai Sotto and Joel Cagulangan turned to familiarity in building their respective teams for the 2019 Chooks-to-Go SM-NBTC All-Star Game.
Sotto and Cagulangan chose their teammates via drafting as captains of Team Hustle and Team Heart, respectively.
The towering Ateneo center picked University of Santo Tomas’ Mark Nonoy, National University’s Gerry Abadiano and Terrence Fortea, and Ateneo teammate Geo Chiu as his top selections.
“We’re going to the NBTC All-Star Game to fight and win,” said Sotto, the No. 1 high school player in the country, in Filipino.
Cagulangan, on the other hand, went with NU’s Carl Tamayo, Inand Fornilos, La Salle’s Joshua David and Hope Christian’s Harvey Pagsanjan.
“We want to play with heart in the All-Star Game,” Cagulangan said.
Completing Sotto’s Team Hustle are Kevin Quiambao of NU, RJ Abarrientos of FEU-Diliman, John Amores of JRU, Jonnel Policarpio of Mapua, Forthsky Padrigao of Ateneo, Bismarck Lina of UST, and Clint Escamis of Mapua.
Joem Sabandal of Adamson, Aaron Fermin of Arellano, Paolo Hernandez and Dan Arches of Mapua, Joshua Yerro of UV, Mac Guadana of Lyceum, and Rafael Go of Chiang Kai Shek round out Team Heart.
Chris Gavina will call the shots for Team Hustle while Charles Tiu will man the sidelines for Team Heart.
For the first time in NBTC’s 12-year history, the best high school players from the UAAP, NCAA, CESAFI, and MMBL were ranked all year long with the top 24 players rightfully earning their spots in the yearly showpiece.
The 2019 Chooks-to-Go SM-NBTC All-Star Game will be on Saturday, March 23, at Mall of Asia Arena.