SLAM Philippines & TITAN mounted the return of the SLAM Rising Stars Classic, the premier high school basketball showcase that has been a staple in the country’s hoops calendar since its first iteration in 2014.
SJ Moore of the UST Growling Tigers was crowned MVP on Day 1 of the 2-day affair, which saw the top 24 male high school prospects flaunt their potential. The prized rookie out of Arellano notched a team-high 23 points –13 of which he dropped in the fourth quarter.
Team Punks won over Team Hype, 141-129
Moore joins other Rising Stars MVPs such as Kai Sotto, Juan Gomez de Liano, and Joel Cagulangan. Andy Gemao led the rally for Team Hype, scoring 23 points while dishing out five assists and four steals.
Day 2 saw the SLAM Rising Stars Classic introduce its pioneer batch of female Rising Stars and the first-ever girls’ game. Team Buckets over Team Stars 91-89, with Alicia Villanueva and Cielo Pagdulagan becoming the second pair to win co-MVPs after putting up 25 and 21 points respectively.
SLAM also announced the first-ever local issue of WSLAM, featuring a select group of players from the Rising Stars pool on the cover. Members of the Gilas Pilipinas Women’s National Team, highlighted by Jack Animam, Camille Clarin, Ella Fajardo, Khate Castillo, and Trina Guytingco, were in attendance to see the historic milestones.