Alaska Power Camp expands to Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The Alaska Milk Corporation (AMC) expanded the Alaska Power Camp to Cebu with the holding of the Alaska Basketball Power Camp-Cebu from May 14 to 28 at the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) covered courts.

Camp director Roehl Gomez revealed that so far, 80 basketball enthusiasts have confirmed their participation, saying that they are targeting a maximum of 120 entries for the 14-day cage clinic.

Each participant, who will be assessed with P1,200 entry fee, will get free jersey and one Alaska branded basketball to be used in training.

The Alaska Power Camp actually started in Manila in 1995 and was conducted later in some parts of Luzon. Its organizers decided to bring it to Cebu because Cebu is a very potential market for their products.

Blen M. Fernando, AMC vice president for marketing, said there had been many sports initiated by Alaska such as football, triathlon and karting.

Gomez said he is inviting Alaska Aces team manager Joaquin Trillo to personally hand out the certificates to the participants during the closing ceremony. Gomez is also the coach of the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters.

A different module will be introduced to the young kids, especially for the beginners. Gomez said he would be utilizing the services of all UC coaches to have a unified system.

Aside from the Alaska Basketball Power Camp, there will be another event in June called the 1st Alaska Baseball-Softball Cup, which is aimed at re-introducing baseball-softball in Cebu.

The Alaska officials believe that it may take time to bring back baseball to Cebu but they are optimistic that the ambitious project will realize.

“We Filipinos are better suited for baseball because it has no height requirement compared to basketball,” said Fernando, a cousin of Sen. Loren Legarda.

According to Alaska’s Marketing Services Manager Jocel de Guzman, AMC believes that sports play a vital role in instilling the value of discipline, hard work, teamwork and determination among the youth.

Yesterday’s launching of the Alaska Power Camp-Cebu basketball clinic also coincided with the closing ceremonies of the 1st Fastball Baseball/Softball Summer Camp at the North Reclamation Area.

There were at least 37 participants who received certificates of completion of the three-week training conducted by camp director Jessie Bernad.

Bernad said that to expedite the resurgence of baseball-softball in Cebu, they have already reached out to the schools.

In June, the tournament will be divided into four categories which is the T-Ball for kids age eight years below, the Little League for 9-12 years old, the Juniors for 13-16 years old and the Open which is for adults and semi pro or commercial players.

 There are at least six teams that have signified their intention to join the tournament. — Gabby G. Malagar/LPM  (THE FREEMAN)