Shore Regional Basketball Showcase Honors Muñ​oz, Damiano

Alexander Muñoz wanted to help other teens in the hospital. Aleka Vassilia Damiano inspired excellence as a leader and member of several organizations. The Shore Regional boys and girls basketball team will be continuing those values for the two former students whose lives were cut short.

The Shore Regional boys and girls basketball teams host Coaches Vs. Cancer — a nationwide initiative among high school and college basketball teams to raise money in the fight against cancer — on Saturday afternoon.

Both squads host Ocean Township, as the boys tip off at 2 p.m. and the girls begin at 4 p.m. at Shore Regional High School. Proceeds will go toward The Alexander Muñoz Memorial Fund and the Aleka Vassilia Damiano Agape Scholarship.

Muñoz, nicknamed "Champ," died of brain cancer when he was 16 in 2014. His last request was to help other teens in the hospital. His namesake charity supports teens and young adults with cancer and provides a college scholarship for a deserving senior at Shore Regional.

Damiano was president of the National Honor Society and also a track and soccer athlete at Shore Regional High School, according to her obituary. She was also part of St. George Greek Orthodox Church; the Greek Orthodox Youth of America; St. George GOYA, where she was first runner-up in the Miss GOYA Pageant; FCA Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Interact Rotary Club; and the Beacon School Newspaper.

The West Long Branch resident died in 2017 at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City.