Kristine shares training with teammates
THIRTEEN year old Kristine Cayabyab, one of the two girls who made it to the top 14 of Nike Rise’s finals, now trains her team mates in Judge Jose De Venecia Senior Memorial National High School (JJDVMNHS).
With the blessing of her coach, Crisanto Aquino, Kristine began teaching other members of their school’s women basketball team what she learned from six- week training program.
Cayabyab, 5’7″ tall, second in five siblings, a native of Barangay Herrero Perez in Dagupan City, became phenomenal when she impressed NBA superstar Lebron James with her three-point shooting during one of Rise’s game in Mall of Asia Pasay City.She was the only Rise’s player who received a signed basketball from James aside from a minute of close encounter as they play basketball.
“I am so happy because Lebron is a superstar in basketball and I got to play even for just a minute with him”, said Kristine.
She admitted a lot has changed since she became part of Rise.
“People now take pictures with me, I feel so special”, said Kristine.
“But in our team in JJDVMNHS, it is still the same, there is no special treatment”, she said, a fact which was confirmed by her coach.
“We need to be strict to all of them for their own good”, said Aquino.
“Before Rise, I was not so eager to train but I later learned its importance, especially the discipline for me to become a very good athlete, and I am privileged to share it now with my teammates”, said Kristine.
JJDVMNHS has been the champion in the women’s division for four consecutive years in the school leagues in the city.
OPPORTUNITIES
Cayabyab disclosed after Rise, offers of sports scholarships from well- known universities in the country for her and her sister Mary Ann, also a basketball player, have started to pour in.
“I haven’t decided yet as I still have four years in high school”, said the enthused Kristine who started playing at age 8.
Since then she became a member of her school’s team and compete in city level leagues, regional leagues and recently in Junior NBA and Nike Rise.
Kristine has been named Most Improved Player, Rookie of the Year, Rising Star Award in Junior NBA and usual part of the Mythical Five.
“I advised her to be always humble and never let stardom get into her head”, said Coach Aquino. (Hilda Austria)
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