By Yoyo Sarmenta
In a field of immense talent from today's rising players, Mark Nonoy shone the brightest in the 2019 Chooks-to-Go NBTC All-Star Game presented by SM, as Team Hustle got the better of Team Heart, 94-86, Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Nonoy, a UAAP Season 81 Mythical Team selection and UST seniors' team commit, displayed his on-court wizardry and overall brilliance scoring 23 points, 14 in the last four and a half minutes, as he was named the game's Most Outstanding Player.
"It's a different feeling because before it was just a dream to play in this arena, then now I was awarded the Most Outstanding Player," he humbly said in Filipino. "This is a big help for me to strive better in basketball because this is our life now."
Team Hustle, coached by Rain or Shine Elasto Painter assistant Chris Gavina and San Miguel Beerman Alex Cabagnot, were amazed by the talent and hard work that today's high school standouts showed.
"Guys just keep getting better and better from last year to this year," said head coach Gavina. "Great seeing the development of our youth. Philippine basketball is in good hands with these kids coming up."
Nonoy was simply superb down the stretch as the two teams exchanged clutch buckets. After US high school sensation Jalen Green knocked a pair of free throws, Team Heart's deficit was cut to just down to two, 82-84 but Nonoy immediately answered on the other end. He then followed it up with a cold-blooded 3-pointer over two defenders to make it a seven-point game with 34.7 seconds left, proving to be the dagger of the contest.
Helping Team Hustle's cause was FEU Baby Tamaraw RJ Abarrientos who scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds. San Beda rookie standout Tony Ynot was a per-minute beast, providing nine points in an efficient six minutes. JRU's John Amores contributed eight points and team captain Kai Sotto had six points and 10 rebounds.
Ateneo's Geo Chiu and Forthsky Padrigao, UST'ss JB Lina, FilAm Sports-USA's Brandon Wilson, Mapua's Jonnel Policarpio, AusPinoy-Australia's Jasper Rentoy, Durham-Canada's Tyler Garcia and NU star trio of Kevin Quiambao, Terrence Fortea and Gerry Abadiano also provided significant contributions for Team Hustle.
For Team Heart, Green had a strong double-double performance of 19 points and 12 rebounds. Fellow Filipino-American Kai Ballungay added 16 points and five boards.
Coached by Charles Tiu and NBA champion Metta World Peace, Team Heart was reinforced by by FilAm Sports-USA's Jeron Artest, Mapua's Dan Arches and Paolo Hernandez, Arellano's Aaron Fermin, Joshua David of La Salle Green Hills, Hope Christian's Harvey Pagsanjan, LPU's Mac Guadana, University of Visayas' Joshua Yerro, Chiang Kai Shek's Rafael Go and Adamson's Joem Sabandal and Adam Doria.
The week-long festivities featuring today's best high school players will culminate in the NBTC National Finals between NU-Manila and LSGH-Mandaluyong on Sunday.
In Division 2 action, Dylan Ababou's Team Dedication got the 98-89 win over Paul Desiderio's Team Passion. Mctroi Crisostomo of Holy Trinity College-General Santos top-scored for Team Dedication with 17 points and six rebounds, earning Most Outstanding Player honors.
THE SCORES
TEAM HUSTLE 94 -- Nonoy 23, Abarrientos 13, Ynot 9, Amores 8, Sotto 6, Quiambao 6, Fortea 5, Lina 5, Wilson 5, Chiu 4, Abadiano 4, Padrigao 3, Policarpio 3, Rentoy 0, Garcia 0.
TEAM HEART 86 -- Green 19, Ballungay 16, Tamayo 11, Fornilos 9, Arches 6, Fermin 6, David 5, Pagsanjan 4, Guadana 3, Artest 2, Yerro 2, Cagulangan 2, Hernandez 1, Sabandal 0, Doria 0, Go 0. Quarters: 18-19, 45-38, 66-61, 94-86.
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