Cariño gets Division I offer

Gilas Pilipinas Youth standout Prince Cariño is on the brink of becoming the latest homegrown Filipino to play in the US National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I after getting a scholarship offer from the University of Nevada.

Marvin Espiritu, who works with player representative Tony Ronzone, told DAILY TRIBUNE that Nevada is the first school to offer the 17-year-old former Far Eastern University-Diliman star.

Cariño, however, has yet to make up his mind as he continues to develop at PHH Prep in Phoenix, Arizona.

“No, he hasn't committed yet. He only received the offer last week,” Espiritu said in a phone conversation.

"Maybe in the next year or so, he might get another offer."

Espiritu, who handles players in the Philippine Basketball Association and overseas, said their priority is to help young prospects improve and gain exposure to higher levels of competition.

“Tony and I work together. In fact, we continuously look for prospects we can help develop. We can bring them to the United States or elsewhere so they can develop and be exposed to a higher level of competition,” he said.

Cariño, who averaged 4.3 points and 3.7 rebounds for Gilas Youth in the FIBA U18 Asia Cup in India last August, is tipped to become the next Filipino to play in a Division I program after Andy Gemao committed to Penn State University after two years at the Royal Crown Prep in Ontario, Canada.

A move to Nevada would give him a chance to play in one of the top tiers program in US college basketball that produced National Basketball Association (NBA) players like Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin, Los Angeles Clippers guard Kobe Sanders and three-time NBA champion JaVale McGee.

Espiritu stressed that Cariño's options remain open, including a possible return to the Philippines for college basketball.

“Even if they choose to return and play college basketball here, that's fine. But if there's an opportunity to play Division I, all of that is taken into consideration,” Espiritu said.

“The purpose is really to develop them — to get stronger, quicker and better.”