San Gabriel Valley volleyballers to showcase Ability

For a second straight year, top talent from the area and beyond will convene for the second annual San Gabriel Valley Boys Volleyball All-Star Game at La Salle High on Sunday afternoon.

Like last season, there will be both an underclassmen match, at 12:30 p.m., and senior match, at 2 p.m., pitting the top players from public and private schools inside and within areas surrounding the San Gabriel Valley.

“For us, we’ve seen so many other sports provide a quality all-star game experience and I think the organizers of this event questioned ‘why not boys’ volleyball,’” All-Star Game creator David Saeta said. “I thought we asked ourselves that question this year again because of the success we had at last year’s event. We’re proud to showcase some of the best talent in the area.”

Last season, the private school won both the upperclassmen and senior matches.

The public school will look for revenge this year with a senior squad coached by South Pasadena High’s Ben Diaz and highlighted by University of Colorado-bound opposite hitter Robert Adamson, the Rio Hondo League Most Valuable Player out of South Pasadena.

Adamson will be flanked fellow Tigers in setter David Barker, middle blocker Jason Qui, libero Nathan Lee (who’s heading to Pasadena City College) and middle blocker Quinn Hutchings.

The senior squad also includes players from Arcadia, Burroughs, Gabrielino, La Cañada and San Gabriel.

“I think this year’s roster, in terms of talent, is pretty balanced,” said organizer Trent Tcheng, a former assistant coach at Pasadena Poly. “We may still have some last-minute changes, but we’re set with most of the team.”

Tcheng said Thursday afternoon that there is still a possibility Burbank High may enter a few players. Perhaps the biggest deviation from the original roster was the switch of La Cañada home-schooler Max States from the public to the private side.

States will highlight a private team recently informed that Ohio State-bound middle blocker Garrett Mohr of Loyola would be unavailable.

States, who is headed to Pepperdine, is one of a few stars along with St. Francis High outside hitter Charles McCarthy, who signed with Pacific University, and Don Bosco Tech outside hitter Jonathon Fuentes, who will head to Regis College in the fall.

Village Christian’s Jon Basilio, who coaches Mayfield Senior girls’ volleyball, will coach a private squad that includes locals in La Salle libero Patrick Sullivan and Maranatha outside hitter Brandon Pomroy and other players from Damien, Flintridge Prep, Providence, Rio Hondo Prep, Salesian and Village Christian.

“We’re really excited about this game and I think it’s a good thing to expand a little outside the San Gabriel Valley,” said Mark Mina, a former La Salle High and Pasadena Poly Coach, who is helping to organize. “You’re going to see the best players from the area.”

As for the underclassmen private team, St. Francis Coach Mark Frazee is in charge and boasts a lineup with a few locals in La Salle setter Jonathon Raymundo and outside hitters David Prada and Ben Dalgarn. Pasadena Poly libero Dennis Grover also made the squad.

The underclassmen public team includes three locals in South Pasadena outside hitters Max and Greg Luck and Richard Yu. Burroughs’ Joel Brinton will coach the squad.

One of the more interesting aspects of the all-star game takes place Friday at the senior practice at La Salle at 6:15 p.m.

Players and coaches from both sides will welcome youth from AbilityFirst Pasadena (formerly known as the Crippled Children Society) for a free skills clinic that will include instruction on setting, bumping and serving.

“When we started this all-star game last year, [Pasadena Poly athletic director] Steve Beerman suggested we make this more of an all-star experience by providing an outreach opportunity,” Saeta said. “I had done work with AbilityFirst and suggested them and we got going ever since.”

Money raised through sponsorships from such groups as Shaw, Moses and Mendenhall & Associates (South Pasadena) and Shuster Financial (Pasadena) along with proceeds from the gate will be donated to AbilityFirst. Admission is a one-time donation of $5.