Lebron Daep feels 'blessed' for NBTC All-Star opportunity but still focused on Junior Altas' NCAA run

The National Collegiate Athletic Association is on a short break before the juniors basketball tournament post-season starts on April 7, but Lebron Jhames Daep of the Perpetual Junior Altas still has a lot on his plate as he leads Team Heart in the 2025 NBTC All-Star Game.

Ranked no. 2 in the NBTC's top high school prospects, Daep will lead the likes of fellow NCAA stars Jan Roluna, his teammate in Perpetual, San Beda's MJ Vailoces, Mapua's Sean Salvador, Letran's Daniel Padilla, and EAC's Ian Cuajao.

They will go against Team Heart led by UAAP Most Valuable Player Kieffer Alas who also has NCAA players in the roster such in Letran's Jhuniel Dela Rama and Benilde-LSGH's Guillian Quines.

"Nasa gitna pa kami ng tournament sa NCAA so 'yung focus ko nandoon pa kasi may goal pa kami ng team ko, hinahabol ko 'yun para sa dreams din namin, para sa opportunities na mabubuksan para sa amin," Daep said last March 24.

"Blessed ako na napunta ako rito (NBTC), kaya ite-take ko lahat ng opportunity and ibibigay ko best ko," he added.

[We're still in the middle of the tournament for the NCAA so my focus is still there. We still have a goal, me and my team, we're chasing that for our dreams and the opportunities that it will open for us... I'm blessed that I was able to be here, so I'll take all of the opportunities and give my best.]

Daep currently leads the race for the NCAA Most Valuable Player award with averages of 15.44 points, 3.83 rebounds, 1.33 assists, and 1.78 steals per game.

Perpetual, who finished number 1 in the standings, will take on San Beda University in the Final Four on Monday.

The NBTC All-Star Game, meanwhile, will be on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News