Ilongga Rhiane Perez and Negrense Bonn Daja successfully secured their tickets to New York after an impressive performance during the Manila qualifiers of The One global basketball tournament hosted by Jordan Brand at the Flight Deck in Taguig City.
Perez, from the UST Junior Growling Tigresses, made quick work of DAYO23 one-on-one champion Mako Namiki in the girls’ finals. She delivered a flawless 11-0 shutout in just 1 minute and 55 seconds, leaving no doubt about her dominance.
Meanwhile, Daja showcased his size and composure in the boys’ finals, cruising past Jose Marie Mabang with a 13-3 win. The 6-foot-4 De La Salle Zobel product credited his height and winning mindset for the convincing victory.
“Ang advantage ko po talaga ay ‘yung height ko at ‘yung mentality ko po na gusto ko talaga manalo. I want to go to New York po talaga,” said Daja.
Both of them took home ₱20,000 in prize money and earned the right to represent the Philippines at The One Global Finals this August in New York.
They will go head-to-head with top one-on-one players from over 15 major cities around the world, including Chicago, Paris, Belgrade, Hong Kong, and Tokyo.IMT Sports
