Interbasket

Reading through some of the news about the ongoing pre-UAAP/NCAA season tournaments in the country, I wanted to write a little something concerning the Fil-Oil Tournament and the Nike Summer League.  My intention is not to report all the events that occured, but offering some of my opinions on those events I believe are worth commenting on.

2008 Fil-Oil Tournament
The latest news in the ongoing Fil-Oil Tournament was how Collegio De San Juan de Letran (CSJL) has decided to pull out of the 2008 Fil-Oil Tournament, citing a “conflict of schedule” for the reason. This came after Letran was forced to forfeit a game in the tournament against De La Salle University last Wednesday, May 21, 2008.

This is just too bad, since Letran is definitely one of the main contenders for the NCAA crown next season. On the other hand, I don’t see any other way for the organizers to have done anything less than that. DLSU did show up to play, so it would’ve been unfair for them if the game was simply re-scheduled.

2008 Nike Summer League
Over at Juniors or High School division of the 2008 Nike Summer League, now that former high school standouts like Nico Salva, Justin Chua & Ryan Buenafe have moved on to college, the next batch of rookies are showing their stuff. The game between De La Salle Greenhills & Jose Rizal University last Wednesday, May 21, 2008 showcased some of those rising stars. DLSU won that game over JRU, by the way, 88-81 in overtime.

Mark Franco is a familiar name. Both of his parents are Filipinos, but he grew up in Australia, where he became a high school standout there, averaging 19 ppg and 10 apg leading Westfield High in Sydney, Australia to 2 successive state championships. He enrolled at De La Salle University Greenhills in 2007, but is ineligible to play for DLSU in the UAAP tournament as he needs to sit out the next 2 years for residency purposes. But the 15 year old, 5′10″ Guard is eligible to play for DLSU in other leagues like the ongoing NSL. He currently averages 13 ppg & 3.25 apg in the NSL, helping DLSU-G to a 5-1 win-loss record, at the top of the standings with four other teams as of May 25, 2008.

Jasper Keith Agovida of the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers also has been playing well consistently in the NSL, averaging 23.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg and 3.8 apg for an excellent all-around performance, helping JRU to a 5-1 win-loss record, also among the top 4 teams in the tournament as of May 25, 2008. Jasper was the 2007 NCAA Juniors Division Rookie of the Year, as well as the 2007 NCAA Juniors Defensive Player of the Year, and a member of the 2007 NCAA Juniors Mythical Team.

I couldn’t remember Agovida’s name being considered for the RP Under-18 Youth Team, nor could I find any news in the net about. But I think his performances might merit a look by the RP U18 Coaching staff.

Sources: Interbasket’s RP Under-18 Youth Team Discussion Thread (Ibn Forums), Letran Pulls Out Of Filoil Flying V Tourney Watch out for this Fil-Aussie Hoops Star!Greenies Steal Win, Quarters Seat From Bombers Marco Franco 2008 NSL Stats, 2008 NSL Juniors Division Team Standings, Jasper Keith Agovida 2008 NSL Stats