Seven young cagers will represent Western Visayas today at the start of the 2nd Nike Elite Basketball Camp at the Brent International School in Laguna.

Ian Gabriel Villanueva, Jason Salvado, Joey Kevin Sellado, Rommel Vivero, Luis Alfonso Dela Paz, Kim Gabriel Flores, and Jorey Tajonera will join Manila-based players in the camp under former Philippine Basketball Association coach Eric Altamirano and San Beda mentor Edmundo "Ato" Badolato. The players bested 55 other aspirants during the try outs held at St. John's Institute Jan. 21 and will meet cagers from Cebu, Davao, Pampanga, Batangas, and Manila.

Talent scout Dexter Dy said Salvado, Villanueva, and Vivero have played in last year's Palarong Pambansa and should have an edge in the training.

Villanueva, who is also the team captain of the St. La Salle-Integrated School Baby Stingers squad, said his speed will help him work at par with the Luzon players.

Salvado of the Iloilo Central Commercial High School on the other hand said that he will play hard to shine among the 80 young cagers in the camp.

Thirty players will be chosen to play in the all star game on the last day of the clinic which will be shown on Solar Sports HOOP Nation before the unveiling of the mythical five, Dy, the local Elite Camp coordinator, told the DAILY STAR.

The coaches attending the camp are Leo Casinillo of USLS, Gerome Aledron, Arvin Gustilo of SJI and Nelson Go of ICCHS.

Vivero and Sellado are currently playing for Iloilo Commercial Central High School.

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 the 5-10 De La Paz, who 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 graduated from high school recently.

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

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