HCSD reinforces Davraa cage team
THREE Holy Child School of Davao (HCSD) Reds will reinforce the Davao City team that will defend its title in the Davao Region Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet in March, but top junior cager Mario Emmanuel Bonleon Jr. is not one of them.
HCSD assistant coach Roger Rabago, during the Davoo Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn on Thursday, said Hermogenes Maning, Rocky Vrian Mejos and Richard Ybalio will beef up the city team that will have core players from Agro High School and Emar Learning Center.
"Deped (Department of Education) ruled that only those who competed in the city meet are qualified to form the selection squad for the regional meet. Bonleon did not play in the city qualifying so he can't be included. Had he played, he would have been chosen," Rabago said.
"I was in Manila during the time when the city meet was held," Bonleon said.
The six-foot-two 15-year-old could really be a great asset to the city team having been part of the Team Philippines that competed in the Fiba 33 of the Asian Youth Games in Singapore. He had also been a consistent most valuable player (MVP) in the Gaisano South (GS) Cup juniors division 1.
He recently powered the HCSD, mentored by Ildefonso Cunanan, to victory over the Sacred Heart of Montessori of Cagayan de Oro City in the SBP National Juniors Mindanao finals by drilling in 41 points, grabbing 15 rebounds and making two steals and issuing five assists and five blocks.
Bonleon was also instrumental to Davraa's silver medal-finish in the Palarong Pambansa in Tacloban City last year.
"I believe the present city line-up is strong. It can defend the Davraa title and perhaps improve our silver medal in Palaro," Rabago said.
HCSD is now preparing for the SBP national championship in Cebu City next month.