San Antonio Spurs’ Jeremy Sochan To Headline NBA Rising Stars Invitational Philippines Qualifiers Presented By Gatorade
(Press Release)
- Tournament Will Feature Seven of the Top Boys’ and Girls’ High-School Teams from Across the CountryCompeting for Two Spots inthe NBA Rising Stars Invitational in Singapore this June-
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced that Jeremy Sochan of the San Antonio Spurs will headline the NBA Rising Stars Invitational Philippines Qualifiers presented by Gatorade taking place in Metro Manila from Wednesday, May 7 – Saturday, May 10.
The NBA Rising Stars Invitational, the league’s first regional high-school basketball tournament, will feature boys’ and girls’ teams from 10 countries and territories across Asia-Pacific competing in Singapore from Wednesday, June 25 – Sunday, June 29 as part of a multiday immersive basketball and entertainment festival.
Operated by Eventscape Manila, the Philippines Qualifiers will feature four boys’ teams and three girls’ teams from across the country that were identified in collaboration with the local basketball federation.
| Boys Division | Girls Division |
|---|---|
Ateneo de Davao University (Davao) Sacred Heart School – Ateneo de Cebu (Cebu) University of Perpetual Help System DALTA (Metro Manila) University of Sto. Tomas (Metro Manila) |
La Salle College of Antipolo (Metro Manila) Nazareth School of National University (Metro Manila) St. Paul College Pasig (Metro Manila) |
The Philippines Qualifiers willconsist of pool games at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong Cityfrom May 7-9, which will determine the top two teams in each division that will advance to the final games on May 10 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. The winning boys’ and girls’ team will then represent their schools at the NBA Rising Stars Invitational, where they will compete against other standout high-school teams from across Asia-Pacific. The culminating event of the Philippines Qualifiers will also feature an NBA Cares clinic with 40 boys and girls from Childhope Philippines, a non-governmental organization dedicated to helping street children, and a live performance by Filipino singer and producer FELIP.
“Gatorade has always empowered athletes across all sports at all levels,” said Gatorade Marketing Manager Raf Baradas.“Presenting the Philippines Qualifiers of the NBA Rising Stars Invitational is one of the many ways the brand brings to life the importance of sports participation among Filipino youth. Together with the NBA, we are committed to growing the game at the grassroots level and are excited to deliver a new platform that will showcase the country’s rising stars.”
“The first Philippines Qualifiers reflect our commitment to supporting the Philippine basketball ecosystem and the development of aspiring Filipino players,” said NBA Asia Head of Growth and Innovation Ed Winkle. “We look forward to working with Gatorade to provide them with the opportunity to compete and develop their skills alongside their peers on the national and regional stage.”
“Traveling the world as an NBA ambassador is an incredible privilege and I can’t wait to visit the Philippines for the first time,” said Sochan. “I’m excited to engage with Filipino fans and watch some of the top basketball talent that will be on display. One of my best friends is Filipino and I know how much passion for basketball there is, so it’ll be amazing to witness it firsthand!”
Sochan was selected 9thoverall in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Spurs and was named to the 2022-23 NBA All-Rookie Second Team. He was also selected as a Rising Star at NBA All-Star 2023 and 2024.
As the presenting partner of the NBA Rising Stars Invitational Philippines Qualifiers, Gatorade will keep the players and coaches hydrated throughout the tournament. Energen Champion and vivo will also serve as official partners, while Cignal, the event’s official broadcaster, will air the boys’ and girls’ finals on NBA TV Philippines and Pilipinas Live.
For all the latest developments around the NBA and the Philippines Qualifiers, fans in the Philippines can visit NBAcom, download the NBA App, and follow the NBA on Facebook, TikTok and X. For more information on the NBA Rising Stars Invitational, visit NBA.com/RisingStarsInvitational and follow NBA Rising Stars Invitational on Instagram for the latest news and updates about the event.
Follow Gatorade Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube for the latest products, news and updates on their initiatives around the Philippines Qualifiers. Gatorade’s “Win the Gear” promotion, which runs from March 5 – May 27 in leading convenience stores nationwide, is providing fans in the Philippines with the chance to win official merchandise from Gatorade and the NBA Store as well as the grand prize of two roundtrip tickets to Los Angeles to watch the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.
The 2024-25 season is airing live in the Philippines on One Sports, RPTV, NBA TV Philippines, streaming platforms Pilipinas Live and Setanta Sports, and NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscription service available via the NBA App. Fans in the Philippines can shop for official NBA merchandise at the NBA Stores at SM Megamall and SM Mall of Asia and at NBAStore.com.ph.
About the NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. Built around five professional sports leagues: the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in 60 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2024-25 season featured a record-tying 125 international players from a record-tying 43 countries. NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 2.5 billion likes and followers globally across all leagues, team and player platforms. NBA Cares, the NBA’s global social responsibility platform, partners with renowned community-based organizations around the world to address important social issues in the areas of education, inclusion, youth and family development, and health and wellness.