ANDREI Ugaddan has caught the attention of basketball fans for his high-wire act for Calabarzon in the Palarong Pambansa.
Add LA Tenorio to those whose heads have turned.
The Gilas Pilipinas Youth coach learned about the 18-year-old high-flyer when fans tagged him in the social media post that saw Ugaddan throw down a seemingly effortless free-throw line dunk – the video of which spread like wildfire.
READ: This San Beda Red Cubs high-flyer is taking the Palaro by storm
“First time ko narinig yung pangalan. Ito lang (nung Palaro), tina-tag ako ng mga tao. Tsaka naging viral siya eh,” Tenorio said after his Batang Gilas team blew out Malaysia, 96-61, in the Fiba U16 Asia Cup SEABA qualifiers on Thursday.
Although he hasn’t tried out for the Under-18 national team, Ugaddan is welcome to do so in the future.
“Hindi siya nag-try out eh. Pero alam ko na he’s playing for San Beda,” Tenorio said.
“But we’ll take a look at him,” he added. “Tingnan namin. Pag balik naman, mayroon pa rin kaming mga series of, not really tryouts but invites doon sa mga nasa pool namin at mga malalaki na iniwan namin.”
“So syempre, kailangan namin makakita pa ng mas malalaking player. So we'll see,” he continued.
Ugaddan’s one highlight reel was enough to get him noticed. But making the national pool is a different story.
“Honestly, he's very athletic,” Tenorio said. “Pero kailangan natin makita yung in-game.”
“Hindi naman kami tumitingin sa mga ganoon (athleticism). Kung ganun lang ang tinitingin natin, marami dyan na athletic talaga na nakaka-dunk,” he added.
“But we have to take a look at the whole game para makita namin kung fit ba talaga sa system. But he's very much welcome. Kung talagang okay, ipapatawag namin,” he continued of the 6-foot-2 Red Cub.
“Kilala naman namin yung mga Beda eh,” added Tenorio, himself a San Beda high school alumnus.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
