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Top high school stars clash in SLAM Rising Stars

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/03/13/cansino.jpg"/><figcaption>UST&#x27;s CJ Cansino participates in practice ahead of the SLAM Rising Stars Classic. Handout photo</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – The best high school players in the country will battle for pride in the SLAM Rising Stars Classic, the annual exhibition game that will be held on March 18 at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong.Bannering the event are NCAA Juniors MVP Will Gozum of Mapua University and UAAP Juniors MVP CJ Cansino of the University of Santo Tomas.&quot;I expect good competition kasi sobrang selected sa iba’t-ibang school na the best talaga, so pride paglalabanan. Underdog lahat, magkakasing-level, wala ‘yung mamaliitin mo. Dapat talaga go hard lahat kasi for you ayaw mong maii-score-an ng iba,&quot; said Gozum, who will team up with Cansino in Team Hype.“Expectation ko siyempre magiging competitive lahat kasi siyempre selection ng best high school players, so hindi magiging madali ‘yung SLAM [Rising Stars Classic] kasi it’s about pride para sa akin,” Cansino said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2018/03/06/former-ncaa-jrs-mvp-mike-enriquez-headed-ust-38580">READ: Former NCAA Jrs. MVP Mike Enriquez headed to UST</a></li></ul>Completing Team Hype are: Hope Christian High School&#x27;s Harvey Pagsanjan, De La Salle Zobel’s Raven Cortez, La Salle Greenhills’ Inand Fornillos, Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s Neil Tolentino, Chiang Kai Shek College’s John Galinato, Far Eastern University’s (FEU) L-Jay Gonzales, National University’s Terrence Fortea, Lyceum of the Philippines University’s Mac Guadaña and Ateneo de Manila High School’s Joaqui Manuel, Jason Credo and SJ Belangel.Team Hype won last year&#x27;s SLAM Rising Stars Classic by beating Team Punks, 89-83. Juan Gomez de Liaño of University of the Philippines Integrated School won MVP honors.This year, UAAP’s regular season MVP has his eyes on the top prize.“Gusto ko ma-achieve siyempre una ay manalo and sana makuha ko din ang MVP,” said Cansino.Standing in their way is Team Punks, which will attempt to avenge last year&#x27;s loss with a powerhouse line-up anchored by 7-foot-1 Kai Sotto of Ateneo and Rhayyan Amsali of NU.Completing the roster for Team Punks are Chiang Kai Shek’s Jason Celis, FEU’s RJ Abarrientos, Lyceum’s Vincent Cunanan, Mapua’s Clint Escamis, Adamson University’s Joem Sabandal, San Beda University’s Evan Nelle, Ateneo’s Dave Ildefonso, Arellano University’s Aaron Fermin, Mapua’s Warren Bonifacio and La Salle Grenhills’ Joel Cagulangan.Now in its fifth year, the SLAM Rising Stars Classic not only serves as a showcase for top high school players. It is also a way for them to get to know each other better after competing against each other for the better part of the year.“Pagkakataon ito para magkakilala pa kami [ni Aaron Fermin],” Bonifacio, an NCAA Mythical Five member, said at the SLAM Rising Stars press conference held last Saturday at Pasig City.For a player like Adamson’s Sabandal, the exhibition game is a chance to share the ball with players who are usually on the other side.“Masarap sa feeling [maging kakampi si Kai]. Pag-duma-drive ako lagi ako naghahanap ng big man. Drop pass mo nalang o babato mo nalang sa taas para madali,” he said.While the SLAM Rising Stars Classic creates a culture of camaraderie among the rising stars, it’s also a venue where the future of Philippine basketball train to sharpen their competitive edge.“Ayaw ko ‘yung MVP. Kahit ‘di ko makuha ‘yun. I want the trophy talaga kasi gusto ko ibawi sarili ko dahil sa pagkatalo nung NCAA [Finals],” said Gozum.The SLAM Rising Stars Classic will be aired live on ABS-CBN Sports+Action.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

The best high school players in the country will battle for pride in the SLAM Rising Stars Classic, the annual exhibition game that will be held on March 18 at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong.

The best high school players in the country will battle for pride in the SLAM Rising Stars Classic, the annual exhibition game that will be held on March 18 at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong.