RC CALIMAG gets to play an extra year in high school by moving from De La Salle-Zobel to La Salle Greenhills.
The Batang Gilas guard played last season for the Junior Archers but moved to the reigning NCAA juniors champion after one season in the UAAP.
The NCAA has a higher age limit of 19 years old, than the UAAP at 18 in the juniors division.
The 17-year-old Calimag is seeing action for the Greenies in Season 94 and will stll be eligible for Season 95, while in the UAAP he would be set for his final year in Season 81.
Calimag said that one extra year will allow him to be even more prepared for college basketball.
“Kaya ako lumipat dito para mas maraming playing years,” said Calimag, son of former PBA cager Ricky Calimag. “Mas marami pa akong matututunan pagdating ng isang taon.”
The 6-foot-1 Calimag played his first game in an LSGH uniform on Friday, delivering 12 points, four rebounds and three assists in a win over San Sebastian.
Calimag played for the Batang Gilas squad that placed 13th in the Fiba Under-17 Basketball World Cup. Calimag hit the buzzer-beating basket over Japan in the quarterfinals of the Fiba Under-16 Asian Championship in China to clinch a berth in the Fiba U17 World Cup.
After arriving in the country last week, Calimag said he went to LSGH practice the next morning to begin preparations for the NCAA Season 94.
“Gabi 6 p.m., sobrang delayed ‘yung flight. 5 a.m. practice,” Calimag said, when asked about the quick turnaround from his arrival from Argentina to practice.
Calimag considers the Batang Gilas experience in the Fiba Under-17 World Cup priceless.
“Sobrang hindi mababayaran ‘yung experience doon. Best of the best ‘yung kalaban namin doon. Simula naglaro kami doon, binigay namin ‘yung best namin kasi kakaiba talagang experience ‘yun. Bibihira ‘yung makapunta doon at makalaban sa worlds,” said Calimag.
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