FOUR Filipinos will be part of the team from Asia-Pacific that will see action at the Jr. NBA Global Championship in Orlando, Florida, in August.
Camille Nolasco, Heinz Gabriel Demisana, Sebastian Reyes and Lionel Matthew Rubico were chosen as representatives of the region after the Jr. NBA Asia-Pacific Selection Camp from June 15 to 16 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Among the outstanding campers in this year’s edition of the Jr. NBA Philippines program, the four young Filipinos will join other participants from the region in representing Asia-Pacific in the Global Championship, a youth basketball tournament for the top 13- and 14-year-old boys and girls teams from around the world that will be held from Aug. 6-11 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World near Orlando.
The players were selected during the two-day camp in Indonesia where they were engaged to execute technical and tactical skills and develop teamwork among players of varying languages and cultural backgrounds.
“Basketball has given me many opportunities with one of them being able to play in the Jr. NBA program. I’m very proud to join the Asia-Pacific team competing in the Jr. NBA Global Championship,” said Demisana after learning of his selection.
“I’m excited for the competition in the United States because it will be a lot harder than in Asia. Representing the Philippines is a big deal for myself because not all kids have an opportunity to play for their country,” Reyes, for his part, said.
Joining Demisana, Reyes and Rubico in the boys’ roster are Joshua Dent (Australia), Tan Zi Sheng Jayson (Singapore), Email Ajmal Bin Jamil (Malaysia), Brian Leonard (Indonesia), Eishin Naito (Japan), Dontae Nance (New Zealand) and Tikun Sriphrawiang (Thailand).
With Nolasco in the girls’ roster are Supawadee Aupatum (Thailand), Angelica Jenifer Candra (Indonesia), Reina Fukuo (Japan), Summah Hanson (Australia), Chon Pui Khee (Malaysia), Phun Trang Linh (Vietnam), Vanissa Renata Siregar (Indonesia), Lily Taulelei (New Zealand) and Iris Yuen (Singapore).
The Jr. NBA Philippines program, where Nolasco, Demisana, Reyes and Rubico came from, has been staged in the country for 12 years now and is presented by Alaska. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
