MANILA, Philippines - Isiah Banawa scattered 17 points and Christian Canicula added 14 as the University of the East Junior Red Warriors crushed St. Clare College Caloocan, 76-60, in the opening of the 2009 National Junior Basketball Championships yesterday at the Emilio Aguinaldo College Sports Center in Manila.
Sherwin Gutierrez also contributed 13 markers to give coach Mark Herrera’s Junior Warriors Team B an encouraging start in the Under-17 category of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas NCR tournament.
Our Lady of Fatima University rode on the heroics of Larry Rivera to subdue University of Manila, 76-75, in the Under-19 category.
Herrera this year embarked on a massive basketball development program aimed at making the UE junior team competitive in upcoming major basketball tournaments.
Herrera, also the head coach of the Jr. Talk ‘n Text QC team that won the Batang PBA summer basketball tournament for three consecutive seasons, said his team is making huge improvements despite their limited exposure.
“The new batch we have recruited are younger and less experienced, and tournaments like this are what they need to go to the next level,” said Herrera, who also coaches the RP 13-under team.
“We hope to create a new basketball program that will provide a strong base for the future of UE high school basketball,” he added.
The tournament is organized by the SBP through SBP executive director Noli Eala and tournament director Bernie Atienza.