3 Pinoy cagers qualify for Basketball Without Borders

Three young Filipino basketball players have been selected to join the Basketball Without Borders training camp starting on Thursday in Melbourne, Australia.

Paul Matthew Manalang, John Mark Lagumen, and Jed Cedrick Colonia will represent the country in the three-day program, a joint initiative of the NBA and FIBA.

The 17-year-old Manalang, who hails from Nazareth School of National University, is the 2014 Jr. NBA Most Valuable Player, while Lagumen and Colonia are products of San Beda High School and Ateneo de Cebu, respectively.

"Sa tingin ko po ma-de-develop ko dun 'yung mga skills po na kulang sa akin, mas lalong tataas saka 'yung kumpyansa po," Manalang told Mark Zambrano of Balitanghali.

Lagumen, meanwhile, hopes to improve his play specifically at the point guard position.

"Pagdating ko ng college 'yung laki ko ngayon pang point guard lang kaya kailangan ko mas i-prepare 'yung sarili ko pang point guard," he said.

NBA and FIBA launched the Basketball Without Borders as part of global basketball development and community outreach. — APG, GMA News