Young cage shooting sensation Baron Coyiuto is making waves in the kids’ basketball scene, simply because of his shooting touch at the perimeter and beyond the arc, aside from dominating the paint area.
A Grade 5 student of Xavier School in San Juan City, the young Coyiuto became a varsity player as his natural skill and talent got fine-tuned and honed by his mentors at the school gym and in actual competitions.
Baron is a tall player at his age of 10, as he is playing alternate center in their age category for Xavier. But it is his shooting dominance that stands out as he contributed a lot for his alma mater’s winning tradition in the 10-under division.
“My father convinced me to play basketball and I began to love this exciting game, especially everytime I convert shots from the outside. It became a natural feeling for me whether I’m free to shoot or with intimidation in front of me," said Baron. “I practice shooting and other plays thrice a week in school, then focus on my studies.”
Baron also practices in their family-owned basketball gym every weekend along with his father Benedict Coyiuto, a former commercial and alumni basketball player before becoming a young executive and top honcho of PGA Cars.
Baron also trains under his shooting coach Ray Alao, current deputy team manager of the Davao Cocolife Tigers in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
“Starting him young, Baron is a potential basketball shooting star in the making. I’m optimistic, he will make it in the big league in the future. With coach Ray (Alao) around, he is in good hands, “ said his proud father ‘Bene, ‘ who holds the distinction of scoring a record 87 points in an official commercial game, mostly made from the distance.
In the Philippines, legend Allan Caidic is still local basketball’s best pure shooter, whose skills are still unmatched.
It may be too early to crown Baron as basketball’s next big thing, but he vows to just keep on hooping until the day he realizes his dream to play in the pros, and hopefully, with Gilas Pilipinas.
