JB Cagurungan daps up his Gilas Pilipinas teammates during a game within the Filoil Preseason Cup.–Photo from Filoil
MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas Youth members JB Cagurungan and Prince Cariño aren’t done representing the Philippines just yet.
Fresh off winning gold within the Fiba U18 Asia Cup Seaba Qualifiers, the duo from FEU-Diliman will carry the country’s flag anew, this time within the 2026 NBA Rising Star Invitationals in Singapore.
Cagurungan said the experience within the Fiba qualifiers will help him in competing against other international schools.
READ: FEU Baby Tams able to test mettle in NBA Rising Stars Invitationals
“The Seaba qualifiers have an enormous effect [on me] because I got an experience to play overseas,” said Cagurungan.
“Going to the NBA games, there are some nerves, but I’m excited, and I’m looking forward to playing and representing FEU and the Philippines.”
FEU-Diliman will compete with 11 other teams from the Asia-Pacific region within the second annual NBA highschool invitationals.
Apart from winning within the international level with Gilas, Cagurungan and company are also coming off winning the UAAP Season 88 boys’ basketball championship.
READ: NBA unveils latest Asia Pacific youth basketball tournament
Very similar to Cagurungan, Cariño can also be able to suit up over again for the country and the Baby Tamaraws.
“I’m just thankful for the chance given to us and the entire team. The experience we’ll get here will likely be an enormous thing for our team,” he said.
“My fatigue level is fantastic. I just maximize my rest and manage my time. I don’t let myself go. I ensure I actually have proper recovery and sleep.”
FEU-Diliman begins its invitationals campaign on Tuesday when it takes on Singapore’s Hwa Chong Institution at OCBC Arena.