Ricci Rivero of the Phoenix Fuel Masters and Sedrick Barefield of the Blackwater Bossing headline the Rookies and Sophomores vs. Juniors (RSJ) Game that will serve as the appetizer to the North vs. South showcase during the PBA’s All-Star Weekend.
Joining Rivero for the Juniors squad are:
- Kenneth Tuffin (Phoenix)
- Ralph Cu (Barangay Ginebra San Miguel)
- Brandon Bates (Meralco Bolts)
- Christian David (Blackwater)
- Kim Aurin (TNT Tropang 5G)
- Henry Galinato Jr. (TNT)
- Fran Yu (Titan Ultra Giant Risers)
- Cade Flores (Titan Ultra)
- King Caralipio (Converge FiberXers)
- Schonny Winston (Converge)
- Dominic Fajard (NLEX Road Warriors)
Barefield will be playing with:
- Kai Ballungay (Phoenix)
- Evan Nelle (Phoenix)
- Jerom Lastimosa (Magnolia Hotshots)
- Sonny Estil (Ginebra)
- Mark Nonoy (Terrafirma Dyip)
- Felix Lemetti-Pangilinan (Rain or Shine Elasto Painters)
- Mike Malonzo (Rain or Shine)
- Brandon Ramirez (NLEX)
- Xyrus Torres (NLEX)
- Jonel Policarpio (NLEX)
- Dalph Panopio (Blackwater)
Notable Young Stars Out of RSJ Game
The RSJ Game would’ve been more studded if not for some notable missing names: Juan Gomez de Liaño and Justine Baltazar of Converge, RJ Abarrientos and Stephen Holt of Ginebra, Zavier Lucero of Magnolia, CJ Cansino of Meralco, Adrian Nocum and Caelan Tiongson of Rain or Shine, and JB Bahio of NLEX.
Abarrientos and company were all voted by the fans to the RSJ Game, with Abarrientos topping the voting for the Rookies and Sophomores and Nocum ending as the top vote-getter for the Juniors. However, they were also chosen to play in the North vs. South showcase, with de Liaño, Holt, and Abarrientos all voted as starters by the fans. Baltazar, Lucero, Nocum, Tiongson, Cansino and Bahio, meanwhile, were chosen by the PBA coaches to round out the two All-Star teams.
But according to league rules, players selected to participate in both the North vs. South and RSJ Games will have to play only in the former.
The two squads will be coached by the deputies of San Miguel’s Leo Austria and TNT’s Chot Reyes, the coaches of the North and South All-Stars, respectively.
