MANILA – Ilonggo John Bryan Sajonia will have a chance to represent the country. He has been tapped to the Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 team for the 19th Asian Games next month in China.
The Pavia, Iloilo native guard is one of the six players vying for the four spots in the squad in the country’s first participation in the Asian Games 3×3 basketball tournament.
Sajonia was a former standout of Santa Clarita International School Primes under Rodel Camacho and was part of the Western Visayas team that finished runner up in the Palarong Pambansa.
The 6-foot-1 guard was then recruited by Far Eastern University Baby Tamaraws in UAAP juniors and later to the Tamaraws’ team in UAAP seniors before he recently transferred to the San Beda University Red Lions in the NCAA.
Sajonia, who played for two seasons with the Tamaraws in UAAP seniors, made a good account of himself while playing for the Red Lions in the pre-season tournaments. He is expected to bring the same kind of contributions for the national 3×3 team.
While serving his residency with the Red Lions, Sajonia will first try to clinch a spot in the Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 team along with fellow San Beda transferee Bismarck Lina, who came from the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.
Transferee players from College of St. Benilde Blazers, namely Justine Sanchez and Allen Liwag, are also part of the Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 pool of players.
Sanchez, formerly of the Red Lions, has recently played for the Iloilo United Royals in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League before he was dismissed by the squad.
Johnrey Pasaol, an incoming rookie for FEU Tamaraws and reigning UAAP Boys’ 3×3 Basketball MVP, along with Ateneo Blue Eagles’ Jed Diaz will complete the pool of players.
The Asian Games competition committee has established a maximum age limit of 24 years for both men’s and women’s tournaments which allowed some collegiate standouts to join the squad./PN
