SLAM Rising Star: Ranbill Tongco

Name: Ranbill Tongco

Height: 5’9″

Weight: 165 lbs.

Age: 18

High School: San Beda College

Committed to: San Beda College

Achievements/Awards won: 2011 SEABA U-16 Champion, 3-time NCAA Juniors Champions (Seasons 87-89), 2013 Gold Coast Australia Invitational Tounrament Champion, 2013 SeaOil NBTC Elite League Champion, 2011 ASEAN Basketball Tournament Champion

Pre-game ritual: “I always listen to music. I just put on my earphones and I really just try to focus.”

Song on repeat: Weezy’s Good Kush and Alcohol.

In-game kicks: Retro Jordans. If he had to choose only one, J11 Breds.

Post-game kicks: Roshe Run and Janoski

Seniors ready: “I know I’m not perfect and I still need to improve for college ball.”

Ranbill was one of San Beda’s key guys in the Juniors division. Even in a team with a lot of big names, he had a number of ‘Player of the Game’ performances. That says a lot about what he can do. However, the collegiate rank is an entirely different story. There’s a lot of work to be done, a lot of gym hours that need to be put in.

Tongco will likely benefit from playing back-up to Baser Amer. He’ll learn a lot from a guy who plays the same position as he does and who transitioned well from the Juniors to Seniors. Of course, The Hammer was already in a class of his own when he was with the Red Cubs. But that’s exactly why Ranbill could learn a lot from him.

Needs work on: “Kailangan ko pa magpalaki ng katawan and I need to develop maturity in my game.”

Step one in improving is knowing your weak points. This youngin was on target in pointing out his areas of improvement.

The game has continuously evolved and so have the players. They’ve become much taller. Ranbill’s height of 5’9″ was about average for a point guard in this country back in the day. Not anymore. He’s now undersized even at the point. And obviously, he has to make up for that with something.

Tongco’s quickness isn’t headturning. What he can probably improve is his strength. In his position, strength has become such an advantage in today’s hoop game. We see a lot of guards operating in the post when recognizing mismatches.

As far as maturity goes, well, he’s gonna play for perennial championship squad; a team loaded with future pros. Basically, he’s got to understand the situation that there everyone on that team is a role player. No superstar. But he knows that already. That’s how it was too when he was with the Red Cubs.

Projection: Ryusei Koga

Like Koga, expect Tongco to start with minimal minutes. But whatever he gets, he’ll make the most of. This kid has the ‘Microwave’ icon on NBA 2K. He can come of the bench and score a string of baskets. No warm-up necessary. He probably won’t be such a household name (at least not soon) but he’ll make sure you remember him for the big shots he made or that huge run that he sparked.

source: SLAM Online