Jr. NBA returns to Cebu with Jr. WNBA; Breaks all school clinic attendance records with 1,152 participants

                               
                                               The Jr. NBA Basketball Clinic...

The Jr. NBA action returned to Cebu last January 25 with school clinics conducted at Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu. The event broke all existing school clinic attendance for Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines presented by Alaska.

1,152 Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA participants from the 86 participating schools, 11 cities and 3 provinces established a new record in the annals of the seven-year old youth basketball program that was last staged in Cebu in 2011.

459 young male players and 75 young girls benefited from the NBA basketball clinics conducted by Jr. NBA/Jr.WNBA coaches Sefu Bernard, also Senior Director of Basketball Operations, NBA Asia; Chris Sumner and Alaska coaches led by PBA legend Jojo Lastimosa. Another PBA Legend, Jerry Codiñera, one of the PBA’s Top 25 Players, is on the coaching staff.

It is safe to say that the record number in Cebu eclipsed the record-high attendance established in Davao at the Ateneo de Davao covered courts in 2013, which was 1,113. 

2014 is the year that the Jr. NBA Philippines has expanded to include Jr. WNBA—a new program introduced exclusively for girls. Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2014 presented by Alaska will also conduct a Coaches Clinic today (January 26) at the same venue.

This year Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA will also go to Iloilo City, Surigao, Puerto Princesa and Dagupan City, reaching over 500 schools and communities nationwide.

The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA is the league’s international youth development program that promotes vital basketball values such as basketball participation, sportsmanship and teamwork, and an active lifestyle among children.

This year’s Philippine schedule includes school clinics as well as coaching seminars in the lead up to Regional Selection Camps in each of the cities. The program, which remains free and open to players between 10 and 14 years old, will conclude in Metro Manila with the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA National Training Camp.

The outstanding participant a.k.a. top 50 boys and top 24 girls from all over the country will participate in the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA National Training Camp in Manila from April 25-27. The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA National Training Camp will culminate with the selection of 10 Jr. NBA and 4 Jr. WNBA All-Stars, providing these select campers with a unique NBA experience and the opportunity to play against a counterpart team from another country later in the year.

The Cebu Regional Selection Camps have produced no less than eleven Jr. NBA All-Stars so far. Six of them – Mark Jayven Tallo, Arc Gabrielle Araw-Araw, Adrian Muller, Patrick Nigel Go, Rendell Senining, Felixberto Jaboneta and Arnie Padilla -- are native Cebuanos. The others – Renzar Henry Asilum, Kib Montalbo, Kristoffer Miguel Competente, Brian Villaruz and Lui Besa – were residents of nearby proviunces who tried out in the Cebu regional selection camps.

Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA is presented by Alaska Milk. Gatorade and Phoenix Petroleum are Official Partners, while KFC and Spalding are Supporting Partners. Phoenix Petroleum is the sponsor of the Cebu leg. The SM Mall of Asia and SM Cinemas are the Official Venues for Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA. Official NBA Broadcasters are Basketball TV, NBA Premium TV and ABS-CBN Sports. Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA is also supported by the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines (BCAP).

The Jr. NBA program was first conducted in the Philippines in 2007 and has more than doubled in participation in the past six years. Each year a new city benefits from the grassroots basketball program that involves not just young players but also their parents and coaches. This year, more than 80,000 students, parents, and coaches will benefit through Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA activities including camps and clinics, NBA Cares outreach activities, television programs and digital initiatives. Registration is now ongoing through the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA event website www.jrnba.asia/philippines. Fans can also follow us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/jrnbaphilippines. For all things NBA, visit us at www.nba.com and follow us on our official Twitter feed atwww.twitter.com/NBA_Philippines.

The program started last January 18 and it will end on mid April.