MANILA – Negrense center Heinz Gabriel “Kobe” Demisana begins his journey with the University of the Philippines. He joins the school’s seniors basketball team’s training.
The 6-foot-7 Demisana was originally recruited for UP’s juniors basketball team but the uncertainty of high school competition led him to train with the college teams for now.
“Kobe is training with UP’s seniors team for now because high school team’s training is still prohibited with the current pandemic situation,” UP high school team manager Dale Villajuan said.
“For now, he is doing basic workouts and drills since he just joined them last Thursday. He will eventually train with the big boys once he is already familiar with the system,” he added.
Villajuan added that Demisana’s workout with the collegiate team is also a huge boost for him when the UAAP juniors basketball tournament eventually returns.
“He still has a couple of years to play pa with the UP Integrated School and this training of him will also help him develop his game and also shake off some rust after years of inactivity due to the pandemic,” he said.
The Pontevedra, Negros Occidental-native Demisana was a former standout of Bacolod Tay Tung High School before he forced his way out of the school to commit to UPIS.
Demisana, a former JR NBA selection, said he is delighted to be invited to join UP seniors’ team’s training to develop his skills further under the guidance of Goldwyn Monteverde.
“Excited po ako kasi almost two years din akong naghintay to be able to train here sa UP. I know naman na madami rin ako matutunan sa coaches dito,” Demisana told Panay News on Friday.
“I know na itong paglipat ko sa UPIS ay God’s will for me to become a better basketball player,” he added. “Malaking blessing para sa akin at sa family ko ito and I will make sure na worth it po ito.”/PN
