Fresh from helping the NLEX Road Warriors win the title in the Batang PBA 15-and-under categrory, teen prospect Liam Jaymalin is set to leave for Canada next month to get the necessary training in hopes of improving his skills.
The 14-year-old Jaymalin played a huge part during the campaign of NLEX in the Batang PBA, and was a key contributor when the Road Warriors downed TNT KaTropa during the championship game, 102-85.
Jaymalin, who played for the La Salle Antipolo basketball team, is set to leave July 3 for Vancouver. He is already enrolled and is expected to join the basketball squad of St. Patrick Regional Secondary School as a Grade 9 student.
“He’ll study and train in Canada, hopefully for a better career in basketball,” said his father Rjay Jaymalin, a businessman in Vancouver. “Since all of us are already here, including his three siblings who are all Canadian citizens, we decided to bring Liam to study here and at the same time be able to train.”
“Here, as parents, we’ll be able to guide him and see his progress as a basketball player. Our hope is if he returns to our country, he’ll comeback as a better player,” added the elder Jaymalin, who played college ball for Mapua and Jose Rizal University.
The young Jaymalin’s love for basketball began at early age at three-years-old when his father would bring him to games.
Jaymalin has joined several training camps, including the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC), the Jr. NBA and the Alaska Power Camp where he won two Most Valuable Player Awards. His favorite players are Scottie Thompson of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
“I hope to one day play in the professional league like my idols. I’m looking forward to improving my skills in Canada and when the time comes for me to comeback, it’ll help me compete against the best players in the country. I don’t know what the future holds but I’ll put in the hardwork in training and in every game,” said Jaymalin, who now stands 5-foot-7.