MANILA, Philippines – Last season's second-ranked high school player, Joel Cagulangan, showed why he is this year's top senior with an outstanding performance in La Salle Greenhills' (LSGH) first game of the NCAA Season 94 juniors basketball tournament.

Cagulangan posted 20 points, nine assists, and four steals to emerge as the top NCAA prospect in Week 1 of the Chooks-to-Go/NBTC NCAA 24.

While it was not surprising to see Cagulangan surge to the top spot, the second-ranked player is certainly less heralded.

San Sebastian College's Milo Janao turned heads on opening week, averaging 19 points in the two games played by the Staglets. Moreover, Janao also drained the game-winner at the buzzer to propel San Sebastian past Lyceum of the Philippines University.

Completing the top five are University of Perpetual Help's Ezdel Galoy, LSGH's Inand Fornilos, and Perpetual Help's Joshua Gallano.

Marwin Dionisio of Jose Rizal University, Jacob Cortez of LSGH, Zach Estacio of San Beda University, Kean Bacalaan of San Sebastian, and John Barba of Lyceum round out the top 10.

Notable names that were not able to crack the top 10 are LSGH's RC Calimag (13), Mapua University's Clint Escamis (16), and Lyceum's Maclaude Guadana (22).

• LSGH leader Cagulangan tops first NCAA Edition of NBTC 24

Here is the complete Week 1 rankings of the Chooks-to-Go/NBTC NCAA 24:

1. Joel Cagulangan (CSB)
2. Milo Janao (SSCR)
3. Ezdel Galoy (UPHSD)
4. Inand Fornilos (CSB)
5. Joshua Gallano (UPHSD)
6. Marwin Dionisio (JRU)
7. Jacob Cortez (CSB)
8. Zach Estacio (SBU)
9. Kean Baclaan (SSCR)
10. John Barba (LPU)
11. Yukihiro Kawamura (UPHSD)
12. Thomas Vasquez (JRU)
13. RC Calimag (CSB)
14. Dan Sarias (MU)
15. Josiah Alcantara (SBU)
16. Clint Escamis (MU)
17. Dave Balo (SSCR)
18. Marj De Leon (LPU)
19. Mark Sangco (CSB)
20. Cadell Buno (JRU)
21. Justine Sanchez (SBU)
22. McLaude Guadana (LPU)
23. Karl Mariano (MU)
24. Kent Pelipel (SBU)

This year, there will three separate editions of the Chooks-to-Go/NBTC 24 – NCAA, UAAP, and CESAFI to accommodate the entire juniors calendar.

For the first installment, all NCAA players will be ranked and deliberated weekly. After all three editions, a final list composing the top 24 players nationwide will be chosen to participate in the annual NBTC All-Star Game in March.

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