UP in the country for more than a decade now, Jr. NBA Philippines, the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) global youth basketball participation program, has made significant strides in teaching the fundamental skills and core values of the game at the grassroots level in an effort to enhance the youth basketball experience for players, parents and coaches.
And proponents of it in the country said the momentum of the drive has hardly waned all this time and that they are bent on building on it further to continue what they have set out to do with the program.
In ceremonies held at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati last weekend, officials of the NBA, presenting partner Alaska Milk and Don Bosco formally opened the 11th edition of Jr. NBA Philippines.
Just like the previous years, the 2018 program, the officials said, remains free and open to boys and girls ages 10-14 throughout its four stages: skills clinics in schools and communities, Regional Selection Camps, a National Training Camp and an NBA experience trip.
They were happy to share that since its first year in 2007, the Jr. NBA clinics have been implemented in 110 cities and municipalities across the country and the 2018 program will return to key provinces including Agusan del Norte, Batangas, Benguet, Cavite, Misamis Oriental, and Negros Occidental.
“The passion [for the program] is sky high. And even after 11 years, I hear kids — every year they’re looking forward to it. And so, I think we’re at a really good stage where there’s huge momentum going our way with Jr. NBA. It’s well received. Our camps are filled to capacity almost,” said Carlo Singson, NBA Philippines Managing Director, when asked by BusinessWorld for his thoughts on how things have been for the program in the Philippine setting.
“So we continue to see that demand for it. We’re working very closely with our league office and with Alaska to try to see how else we can continue to grow the program. But definitely, the excitement, even after 11 years, continues to grow for Jr. NBA,” he added.
The NBA official went on to say that programs like Jr. NBA, based on their experience, is advisable for countries like the Philippines, thanks to its affinity for the sport.
“Not a lot [of challenges as far as staging the program here]. I mean, there’s a lot of interest obviously in working with us, in partnering with the NBA. Challenges, I guess, I mean just logistically getting to the different parts of the Philippines is tough. As you guys know, we wanna try to bring Jr. NBA everywhere. Just logistically, it’s not possible,” he said.
Adding, “So, one of the things we’re doing is how can we build our digital and mobile assets so that if you were a kid in an island or kid in a province where there’s no Jr. NBA. You can still benefit from the program. So we’re building our assets digitally and our Web site — there’s a lot more content. So, you can practice. You can create play sets. Coaches can download training materials for their kids. So that’s how we’re going to reach many Filipinos. More than their physical camps ’cause those have a limit. It’s on the digital, social and mobile side. We’re gonna try to reach as many Filipinos as possible.”
Jr. NBA Regional Selection Camps will be held in Bacolod (Feb. 10-11), Butuan (Feb. 24-25), Baguio (March 17-18) and Metro Manila (April 7-8), with the top 37 boys and 37 girls advancing for the National Training Camp in Manila in May, which will feature an NBA and WNBA player or legend.
The program will culminate with the selection of 16 Jr. NBA All-Stars, comprised of eight boys and eight girls, who will embark on an overseas NBA experience trip with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia.
Prior editions of the Jr. NBA Philippines program have featured notable alumni including Aljon Mariano, Kobe Paras, Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Ricci Rivero, and Kai Sotto as well as champion collegiate coach Aldin Ayo.
Meanwhile, to reaffirm their commitment as Jr. NBA Philippines partner and add further dimension to the program, Alaska is revving up its participation as it uses it to help ease the country’s malnutrition problem.
“Some of the health problems of children here are malnutrition and obesity. We will continue to do projects that promote an active and healthy lifestyle. Let the children get out and play sports in the sun,” said newly designated Alaska Managing Director Marco Bertacca during the opening.
For more information about Jr. NBA presented by Alaska 2018, visit http://jrnba.asia/philippines/. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
