Cuajao, Escalera to lead secondary boys team

ONLY two Palarong Pambansa 2018 silver medal performers, Vince Petdeo Cuajao and Emeliano Escalera, Jr., will lead the cast for defending champion Davao City's secondary boys basketball team in the Davraa Meet 2019 that will unfurl on Sunday, January 27.

Head coach Nestor Sorrosa, who steered Holy Child College of Davao Red Eagles' successful title-retention in the Davao City Athletic Association (DCAA) Meet 201, said it would be tough to only have two remaining Palaro veterans of last year's Davraa champion silver medal team.

But he is still confident that they would defend the Davraa gold medal.

“Pare-pareha man gihapon ang strength, naa lang nabawas halos bag-o (The strength is almost the same but most players are new in the team),” Sorrosa said in an interview with SunStar Davao.

HCCD's Aeron Jeswill Awe, James Paolo Manigo, Froilan Tingabngab, Rhude Jay Villaflores, Ralf Bernhard Panto and Rommel Mercado, Jr. along with Davao Jones Academy's Askiah John Echavia, Angelo Paul Escalona and Steven Lee Cordova and Lamb of God Sped Academy's Miguelito Miguel complete the city's roster. Rogelio Rabago is assistant coach.

Sorrosa said since they've been quartering/training at HCCD since the Davao City's billeting center at Mintal Elementary School is far.

“Mag-eskwela paman gud ang mga bata from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. Buntag og gabii among training, usa magklase og human sa klase (The players have to attend their classes from 8 a.m to 5 p.m. so we hold training before and after classes in the morning and in the evening),” the multi-titled coach added.

Last year, the Davao City Durians defeated Tagum City Tagumpay, 107-96, in the Davraa Meet secondary boys finals at the University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep) Gym.