City Hoops Manila delivered a commanding performance on the international stage, ruling the Under-13 and Under-12 divisions of the 13th Asian Basketball Club Tournament held last weekend at the Seocho Sports Complex.
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U13 squad sweeps field in dominant fashion
Bannered by tournament Most Valuable Player Zarren Driz of Bulacan, City Hoops’ Under-13 team completed a flawless campaign, sweeping all four of its elimination round assignments against Japan, Hong Kong, Samsung Bundang, and KCC Egis.
The young Filipinos carried their momentum into the knockout stage, dismantling Samsung Bundang, 59-39, in the semifinals before capping their title run with a resounding 62-15 victory over KCC Egis Korea in the finals.
City Hoops imposed a relentless, suffocating full-court press that forced multiple turnovers and set the tone early, leaving their Korean counterparts scrambling for answers.
“Feels good to get the championship this time after losing the previous three years. It’s sweeter this time around knowing that people still believe in our program for the team. It took us three years to finally win this year-born age group and we are proud of how the program finally reached its goals,” said head coach Pau Ycasiano, who was assisted by Storm Riva and Thomas Babilonia.
Aside from Driz, the U13 squad was composed of Hubert Bautista (UPIS), Massey David (Xavier Nuvali), Xian Latay and Anton Layco (San Beda Rizal) — the latter the son of LPU athletics director Dr. Allan, Alexander Chiu (British School of Manila), Rosanno Sotto and Caleb Delos Angeles (Home School Global), Andres Ojeda (La Salle Green Hills), Matteo Paltu-ob (FEU Diliman), and Sandro Yao (Claret School).
U12 team defends crown
Not to be outdone, the Under-12 squad successfully defended its Summer Championship title—previously won in Busan—by also sweeping the tournament.
City Hoops U12 dominated the eliminations, turning back Fastbreak Singapore, KCC Egis, Sketch Hong Kong, and AD Mongolia.
They then overpowered Anyang Junkwanjang, 39-21, in the semifinals before sealing the championship with a 39-23 triumph over KCC Egis Korea in the finals.
The team was led by U12 Tournament MVP Miggy Martires of La Salle Green Hills and U12 Summer MVP Ryley Floirendo of UPIS, alongside LSGH twins Thiago and Theon Cruz.
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Also part of the lineup were Miggy Liao and Elija Cardenas (La Salle Green Hills), Hunter Tajon (Ateneo de Manila), and Travis Almiron, Liam Ochoa, Noah Zamora, Alfonso Inocando, and Ken Ojeda—all products of the La Salle Green Hills program.
The team was coached by Homer Bautista.
U12 team defends crown
Not to be outdone, the Under-12 squad successfully defended its Summer Championship title—previously won in Busan—by also sweeping the tournament.
City Hoops U12 dominated the eliminations, turning back Fastbreak Singapore, KCC Egis, Sketch Hong Kong, and AD Mongolia.
They then overpowered Anyang Junkwanjang, 39-21, in the semifinals before sealing the championship with a 39-23 triumph over KCC Egis Korea in the finals.
The team was led by U12 Tournament MVP Miggy Martires of La Salle Green Hills and U12 Summer MVP Ryley Floirendo of UPIS, alongside LSGH twins Thiago and Theon Cruz.
CorporateTraining
Also part of the lineup were Miggy Liao and Elija Cardenas (La Salle Green Hills), Hunter Tajon (Ateneo de Manila), and Travis Almiron, Liam Ochoa, Noah Zamora, Alfonso Inocando, and Ken Ojeda—all products of the La Salle Green Hills program.
The team was coached by Homer Bautista.