Mario Barasi Jr.: Rising Big Man ready for the PBA stage

Kenji “Chog Chog” Moral, who was 16 years of age and a native from Bacolor, Pampanga has already made a name for himself in the world of Philippine youth basketball. 

Kenji is currently a student-athlete at St. Augustine School. His roots in local basketball and rapid development have led to an impressive journey through various elite youth leagues and tournaments.

Standing at 6'1" and playing the point guard position, he's known for his court vision, leadership, and clutch performances—traits that have made him a standout across multiple leagues and tournaments.

From local tournaments to national leagues, Kenji has continually proven himself as a clutch player and team leader, collecting multiple MVP honors and championship titles. His performances not only highlight his talent but also reflect his dedication to developing as a top-tier athlete. 

The Masters Pinoy Pilipinas Basketball squad emerged victorious in the 45-up division at the World Masters Games, clinching the gold medal after a hard-fought 103-92 win over Mongolia on Monday, May 26, at the Fujen Catholic University Gymnasium in Xinzhuang, New Taipei City, Taiwan.

Veteran leadership and experience powered the Filipinos to the top. 

Team captain Gilbert Malabanan led by example, putting up an impressive stat line of 25 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. His all-around performance and court command anchored the team throughout the championship game.

Sharp-shooting guard Rendell Dela Rea added firepower from the perimeter, knocking down four three-pointers on his way to 24 markers, providing a steady offensive boost and keeping the defense on their heels.

Inside the paint, Marlon Basco delivered a commanding performance with a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds, along with four assists, two steals, and a block. His physical presence and relentless effort on both ends of the floor were key in fending off Mongolia’s inside attacks.

Guiness Nabung also made valuable contributions in the starting rotation, finishing with four points, two rebounds, and two assists, adding balance to both ends of the court.

The steady hand of Roger Yap proved vital in the gold medal game. The veteran guard served as the team’s stabilizer, orchestrating plays and maintaining composure under pressure. Yap flirted with a triple-double, tallying nine points, seven rebounds, and a game-high 13 assists. His floor leadership was instrumental in guiding the team from a nine-point deficit to a decisive 11-point win.

Moving on is one of the things that humans occasionally find difficult to comprehend. However, in order to improve and flourish, one must either pursue change or just dwell in their comfort zone indefinitely.

The collegiate volleyball community was surprised to learn of the departure of Dr. Obet Vital from his post as University of the East Lady Red Warriors head coach to bring his vision and initiatives to the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons Women’s Volleyball Team.

But an even bigger revelation was followed by the transfer of California Academy standouts and former Lady Red Warriors Casiey Dongallo, Kizzie Madriaga, and Jelai Gajero to the Diliman school.

In an exclusive interview with Scoreline.ph, Coach Obet shared an optimistic outlook of the team’s trajectory and expressed enthusiasm for what lies ahead as they continue to evolve as a group and as individuals.

In 2016, Janine Nicandro shocked the basketball-crazy Filipino nation as she became the first female referee to officiate pay-for-play games in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Janine, known to basketball teams as “Referee #41”, is a proud daughter of Pagsanjan, Laguna.

In an exclusive interview with our team, Janine opened up about her referee journey - one that started when she went to Manila together with her bestfriend Marilee, who also became the league’s third-ever lady referee.

They decided to explore Manila to get out of their comfort zone and earn a better income.

“I went to Manila with Ate Mao (Marilee) Orioste. Then attend training with other female applicants…Ayeez Ceballos, Jill Santiago, Faye Tria, Jane Umali and Ma’am Edith Boticario,” she said.

Together with some other female applicants, Nicandro started going to training camps and improving her skills to climb up the ladder of success.

She first started in the PBA D-League academy in 2014 before jumping to the pro league after two years.

During her first time officiating an official PBA game, she felt different kinds of emotions and feelings.