Young cage sensation Prince Ray Alao will don the San Beda Red Cubs’ uniform in the coming 95th Season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association,
San Beda University Basketball Operations’ head Ato Badolato confirmed this latest basketball update on Alao’s inclusion into a junior team aiming to strengthen its frontline and reach the goal of advancing to the finals and win a title.
“Prince’s [Alao] addition to our junior team is a welcome development in the quest of the Red Cubs for supremacy in this NCAA younger division. His talent easily fits our system in the Lion’s den and he can contribute to our winning tradition,” said Badolato, who also named Davao Cocolife Tigers’ [MPBL] assistant mentor Manu Inigo as the new head coach of San Beda Red Cubs.
The 15-year-old Alao actually is a proud Bedan from the start as his talent was molded in San Beda-Taytay, highlighted by the young team’s back-to-back triumph in the Pacific Rim Basketball Championship age category in Bangkok, Thailand in 2018 and 2019.
Arao, one of a few selected young talents in the Jr. NBA won the Most Valuable Player plum in the tournament before he was called to join the Batang Gilas training pool.
“Chemistry, maturity and experience make up the true character of this San Beda junior team that is looking forward to a best finish in the coming NCAA junior tilt. Prince is the new kid in the block that can easily jell with our holdover and mainstays,” said coach Inigo, who will be assisted by deputy coaches Noli Mejos, Andy Mejos, VL Sandalo and Onelle Balinton.
The team is supported by Cocolife, according to FVP Joseph Ronquillo.