Arnie Padilla of Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu fights for a rebound in this September 2013 photo.
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Can Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) forward Arnie Padilla be the latest in the long line of Magis Eagles to make it to the national collegiate stage in Manila? The 6-foot-2 senior certainly is headed in that direction after he was named to the 2014 National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) All Star Game – the only player from Cebu to earn the prestigious distinction.
He is only the third player from Cebu to earn a spot after former SHS-AdC aces Dave Wilson Yu and Julius Cadavis achieved the feat in 2011.
Yu and Cadavis have since gone to respectable collegiate careers with the former expected to make it to the roster of the National University Bulldogs in the UAAP this season while the latter has played for the Arellano University Chiefs in the NCAA.
The All-Star game is considered to be a showcase of 30 of the country’s best high school players.
The son of former San Miguel center Onie Padilla, Arnie has made huge strides in the development of his game to become the Eagles’ most potent offensive weapon.
“It feels great. All my hard work and sacrifices paid off. I feel so blessed and proud and it’s an honor to be the only player from Cebu to make it in the NBTC all star game,” Padilla said.
Leading the cast of all stars are the respective MVPs of the UAAP and the NCAA, Thirdy Ravena of Ateneo and Prince Rivero of St. Benilde. The other notables were National Universty’s Hubert Cani and San Beda’s Adven Jess Diputado and Arvin Tolentino.
Padilla’s leap to stardom did not go unnoticed as he was tapped to join the Philippine under-16 team which placed second to China in the FIBA Asia Championships last year. He is also set to don the country’s colors in the FIBA Under-17 World Championships which will be played later this year in Dubai.
“I’m so happy to be part of the Batang Gilas bound for Dubai. I really have to thank my family, my school and my teammates.”