All systems go for Slam classic

It’s the Philippine version of the widely popular McDonald’s All-American Game, a yearly event that started in 1978 and has welcomed over 1,000 high school players including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kevin Love.

Tomorrow, Slam Magazine Philippines unveils the Rising Stars Classic presented by Cherifer PGM 10-22 featuring the country’s top 24 prepsters split into two teams Hype and Punks at the Gatorade Hoops Center on Shaw Boulevard. Tip-off is set at 4 p.m. The All-Star contest will be shown on Fox Sports TV at 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 20, with replays on April 21 at 5 p.m., April 22 at 5 a.m., April 23 at 10 p.m. and April 26 at 1 p.m., also on Fox Sports.

While the McDonald’s version assembles 24 boys and 24 girls to play in two separate games, the local edition is strictly for boys. McDonald’s started out with a boys game until 12 years ago when the girls game was introduced so that now, the event is dubbed “The Next 48.”

Organizing the Rising Stars Classic is RSA-Titan Management Group (RTMG) led by former national football keeper Rely San Agustin. RTMG was formed in 2011 and is a marketing consultancy and events management company specializing in sports, brand and lifestyle projects. Two of San Agustin’s partners in the enterprise are Dennis Tan and San Mig Coffee assistant coach Jeff Cariaso. RTMG is part of the Titanomachy Group of Companies which owns Titan 22 for retail sales, Titanomachy Publishing which produces Slam Philippines and Titan-LGR, a design studio for jersey customization.

Among RMTG’s clients are the NBA, Nike, Adidas, Sports 5/AKTV and BTV Liga. It has handled events like the NBA Fit, NBA 3X, NBA trophy tour with Erik Spoelstra, NBA Global Games, NBA Cares, Jr. NBA, Witness Tour with James, D-Rose Tour with Derrick Rose, the Dwight Howard event during the NBA Global Games, the PBA Roadshow, McDonald’s Fan Favorite featuring the Teng brothers, Rajan Rondo Tour for Red Bull and the 7-a-side football tournament of the MVP Olympics. Additionally, RTMG’s owned properties and events include the Rising Stars Classic, Ateneo football league, Philippine Goalkeeping Academy, Slam Hoops Camp and Titan 2K Basketball Gaming Series (basketball video gaming tournament).

“We’ve invited PBA and UAAP athletes to attend the games and we expect celebrities to watch,” said San Agustin. Sponsors are Cherifer PGM 10-22 as presentor, Gatorade as official sports drink and Fox Sports as official broadcaster and media partner.

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Slam Philippines editor-at-large and PBA TV broadcaster Mico Halili called it a showcase event featuring the future of Philippine hoops and a unique opportunity to introduce the future of the sport to influencers in the basketball community. “The Slam Rising Stars Classic is a gathering of the best high school players,” he said. “Slam Philippines believes in the dreamers. We believe in their future. We believe in the power of their dreams.”

Curiously, the Rising Stars Classic will be held ahead of the McDonald’s All-American Games set on April 2 at the United Center in Chicago. The McDonald’s boys game will bring Riverdale Baptist High School of Maryland coach Lou Wilson to call the shots for the East and De La Salle High School of Concord, California, coach Frank Allocco to pilot the West. Two of the West stars are 7-0 Jahlil Okafor of Whitney Young Magnet High School of Chicago and 7-0 Thomas Welsh of Loyola High School of Redondo Beach, California. The East also has a pair of 7-0 centers in Karl Anthony Towns of St. Joseph High School of New Jersey and Myles Turner of Trinity High School of Bedford, Texas.

Team Hype is composed of 6-1 Jeric Adorio of Jose Rizal, 5-11 Hubert Cani of National University, 6-3 John Cauilan of National University, 5-9 Arjan de la Cruz of Hope Christian, 6-1 Clint Doliguez of Hope Christian, 6-3 Richard Escoto of FEU, 5-11 Matt Nieto of Ateneo, 6-1 Mike Nieto of Ateneo, 6-3 Prince Rivero of La Salle Green Hills, 6-5 Arvin Tolentino of San Beda, 5-9 Ranbill Tongco of San Beda and 6-2 Rhanzelle Yong of San Sebastian. Coach is former FIBA-Asia U-18 national head coach Olsen Racela with 12-time PBA champion Johnny Abarrientos as assistant. Both Racela and Abarrientos were UAAP stars.

Team Punks is made up of 6-4 John Apacible of Hope Christian, 6-3 Michael Calisaan of San Sebastian, 6-2 Isaiah Dandan of UST, 5-8 Diego Dario of UP Integrated School, 5-9 Adven Diputado of San Beda, 6-0 J. J. Domingo of FEU,

 6-2 Alfren Gayosa of San Sebastian, 6-5 Jay Javelosa of Reedley, 6-4 Javee Mocon of San Beda, 6-3 Reinier Quinga of Adamson, 6-2 Thirdy Ravena of Ateneo and 5-9 Renzo Subido of La Salle Zobel. Coach is eight-time UAAP juniors champion head coach and current FIBA-Asia U-18 national head coach Jamike Jarin with Talk ‘N’ Text and Gilas point guard Jimmy Alapag as assistant.

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College scouts will be in the stands to witness the Rising Stars Classic for sure. Not all the players are committed to schools in the UAAP, NCAA and elsewhere so several are still available for recruitment. Both teams are star-studded. Hype includes Tolentino and Rivero who, with Ravena, played on the Philippine squad that captured the FIBA-Asia 3x3 championship last year. Also in Racela’s lineup is Cani, the season’s junior finals MVP. As for Punks, Ravena is expected the lead the charge with the sweet-shooting Subido on the firing end. Subido led the UAAP juniors in scoring this season with a 20.1 clip.

Six players averaged a double-double this campaign. They were Adorio (16.3 points, 13.6 rebounds), Mike Nieto (13.2, 12.2), Rivero (22.7, 16.3), Apacible (12.3, 10.5), Quinga (15.4, 13.4) and Ravena (18.7, 11.2). Cani has the highest assist average of 6.1 while Gayosa and Diputado share the honor of averaging 1.8 steals, the most of any player. Quinga led in blocked shots with a 2.6 norm.

Four players shot a single-game high of at least 30 points during the campaign. They were Rivero (39), Subido (32), Diputado (31) and Dandan (30). Expect another successful event from RTMG tomorrow as the Rising Stars Classic unfolds for the first time in the country.