Six basketball standouts from Negros Occidental and another from Iloilo have been selected to advance to the national Nike Elite Camp set from March 30 to April 4 at Brent International School in Malampasan, Laguna.

St. La Salle's Iggy Villanueva and Luigi de la Paz, Jorey Tajonera of St. Johns Institue and Kim Flores of Bacolod Tay Tung High School made the grade along with Murcia-born Rommel Vivero and Bacoleno Joey Kevin Sellado, Dexter Dy, local Elite Camp coordinator, told the DAILY STAR. The local try-out was held Jan. 21 at the St. John's Institute Activity Center with former Philippine Basketball Association coach Eric Altamirano, multi-titled San Beda high school mentor Ato Badolato and Welcoat assistant coach and former MBA star Alex Compton conducting the camp.

They were assisted by local coaches Leo Casinillo of USLS, Gerome Aledroon of Tay Tung and Elmo Quiachon of Mansilingan Christian Academy.

Vivero and Sellado are currently playing for Iloilo Commercial Central High School, along with another Elite Camp qualifier, Jason Salvado.

Standing 5-feet-9, Sellado, who honed his skills in Barangay Montevista, played for St. Joseph's School-La Salle, before transferring to ICCHS, Dy said.

Salvado, a swingman who has a decent outside shot, is the tallest player among the seven at 6- 2. He was part of the Western Visayas quintet that won a silver in the 2006 Palarong Pambansa in Naga City.

Also on that team were 6-1 Vivero and 5-10 Villanueva, who is known for his intelligent drives to the basket and his clutch perimeter shooting.

The 5-10 De La Paz has been noticed by Manila school for his outstanding play. He is set to transfer at La Salle-Zobel in the next school-year. Salvado and Sellado are also expected to play at Adamson University next year after they were offered athletic scholarships. Tajonera and Flores will graduate from high school next month.

Dy noted that in the first staging of the camp in Manila, only four cagers from Bacolod emerged among the Top 80 players. *CPT

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