Aljun Melecio, Justine Baltazar lead collection of top high school players in NBTC All Star game

ALJUN Melecio of De La Salle-Zobel lead 24 high school standouts who will be participating in the 5th SM-National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) All-Star Game set March 16 at the Mall of Asia arena.

The NBTC All-Star Game will be played in the middle of the SM-NBTC League National High School Championship from March 13 to 17 at the same venue.

Melecio, the UAAP Season 78 juniors MVP, spearheads the South team that also has John Galinato of Chiang Kai Shek College, Evan Agbong of Adamson, Gian Mamuyac and Jolo Mendoza of Ateneo, Marvel Jimenez of Hope Christian High School, Sam Abulihijle and Germy Mahinay of San Beda, Rhayyan Amsali of National University, Rendell Joseph Lee of Xavier School, Raul Jancork Cabahug of University of the Visayas, and Jed Colonia of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu.

Meanwhile, Justine Baltazar and John Lloyd Clemente of NU banners the North team that is made up of Jonas Tibayan of Chiang Kai Shek College, Sherwin Concepcion of Mapua, Kris Harvey Pagsanjan of Hope Christian High School, Evan Nelle of San Beda, Tyler Tio of Xavier School, Will Gozum, Javier Gomez de Liano, and Juan Gomez de Liano of University of the Philippines Integrated School, and Ricci Rivero and Jethro Madrigal of La Salle Greenhills.

The players were picked following a series of tryouts held recently by the NBTC under program director Eric Altamirano.

“This is one of the highlights of our program. This is our way of honoring the best of the best high school players in the country. I’m very happy that most of the players that came from this program are now very successful with their basketball careers not only in college but in the pros,” Altamirano said.

“We are excited to have a new breed of talents,” he added.