MANILA -- And the best high school basketball player in the Philippines is -- Adamson University’s Florencio “Encho” Serrano.

Over a dozen collegiate and high school coaches, including basketball analysts, rated the 26 players who will be participating in the upcoming SM-National Basketball Training Center High School All-Star Game this March 16 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

This is the sixth year for the All-Star Game that is one of the highlights of the five-month long SM-NBTC High School National Championships where close to 800 high schools from all over the archipelago compete for the right to be called national champions.

Serrano, who could have been the UAAP Juniors Most Valuable Player this past season (the honor went to University of the Philippines’ Juan Gomez De Liaño) were it not for the forfeiture of his team’s matches after he was found to be lacking in his paperwork, thoroughly dominated the two-day tryouts last February 25-26 at the San Beda Gym.

Close to 70 of the best players from all over the country were present, all vying for one of the 26 slots available for the sixth edition of the Al-Star Game that was patterned after the McDonald’s All-American Tournament in the United States.

• READ: Serrano-fueled North duels Belangel-led South in NBTC All-Star Game

The players were ranked according to their ball handling skills, shooting proficiency, rebounding, passing, defense, athleticism, basketball intelligence, attitude, coachability, and leadership skills.

The ranking was a close one as three players were separated by mere percentage points.

Serrano topped the list with a score of 87.9, while National University’s John Lloyd Clemente followed with a score of 87.5 and Ateneo’s SJ Belangel was assessed with an 87.1 score.

De Liaño was fourth with a score of 85.8.

“This is one of the most talented batches we’ve had,” noted SM-NBTC tournament director Eric Altamirano. “I understand that ranking them was a difficult chore for all. We looked at them for two days in a variety of skills challenges as well as scrimmages.”

Serrano was also adjudged the best player of the tryouts.

The top 26 players in the country

1. Encho Serrano (Adamson)
2. John Lloyd Clemente (National University)
3. SJ Belangel (Ateneo de Manila)
4. Juan Gomez De Liaño (UPIS)
5. Jonas Tibayan (Chiang Kai Shek College)
6. Troy Malilin (La Salle Greenhills)
7. John Galinato (Chiang Kai Shek College)
8. Guilmer dela Torre (Arellano University)
9. Sam Abuhijleh (San Beda College)
10. Harvey Pagsanjan (Hope Christian High School)
11. Sherwin Concepcion (Mapua)
12. Unique Naboa (La Salle Greenhills)
13. Maui Cruz (Emilio Aguinaldo College)
14. Andrew Velasco (Ateneo de Cebu)
15. Dave Ildefonso (Ateneo de Manila)
16. Rommel Junsay (Mapua)
17. Aaron Fermin (Arellano University)
18. Kai Sotto (Ateneo de Manila)
19. Miguel Oczon (Chiang Kai Shek College)
20. Jan Cork Cabahug (University of Visayas)
21. Rhayyan Amsali (National University)
22. Germy Mahinay (San Beda College)
23. Lars Sunga (Arellano University)
24. Karl Peñano (National University)
25. Evan Nelle (San Beda College)
26. Erlan Umpad (Lyceum of the Philippines University)

The All-Star Game will be broadcast on March 18 on ABS-CBN S+A Channel 23. It will be streamed live on sports.abs-cbn.com, together with the League Finals, on March 17.

For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.