Jr. NBA Visayas Regional Selection Camp set

CEBU – Calling all coaches and interested male basketball players aged 12-14 in the Cebu and Visayas area.The Jr. NBA presented by Hi-Smart is holding its Visayas Regional Selection Camp at the Sacred Heart School-Jesuit Gym in Cebu City on December 27 and 28 from 8 am to 5 pm on both days.

The Visayas Regional Training Camp is in search of 200 participants who will be trained in Jr. NBA Basketball by Jr. NBA coaches Elmer Cabahug, Al Solis, Roehl Gomez, Benjie Paras and Jolly Escobar. Participation is completely free of charge.

Local coaches can send in the list of their best four players (with birth certificates) to Coach Elmer Cabahug at (0927) 2228444 or fax their registration forms (with birth certificates) to Team Comm, the Jr. NBA Event Coordinator at (632) 913-1534. They may also call (632) 913-1534 or 0917-7913924 for inquiries.Coaches, including those who did not participate in the coaches clinic held in the Cebu City Sports Club on November 12, may register their four chosen players at the venue on the day itself, provided they come early and bring copies of their players’ birth certificates.

In the Regional Selection Camp, players who have been recommended by their schools or coaches will undergo fitness, skills and attitude challenges. Basic drills on speed improvement, shooting, dribbling and rebounding, physical fitness and stamina tests, motor reflexes tests and basketball team plays will be given to the regional campers.

They will also be given nutrition and fitness tips as well as learn about the Jr. NBA S.T.A.R. values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, Attitude and Respect.

The best 20 players from the Visayas and another 20 from Manila, which will hold its Regional Selection Camp at the Jose Rizal University Gym on January 24 and 25, will move up to the National Training Camp on February 27 to March 1, 2009, an intensive 3-day NBA camp that will test the mental, physical and emotional mettle of the young regional campers. The camp will be led by Jr. NBA Coach Frank Lopez, Jr. and assisted by PBA legends who have joined the Jr. NBA as local coaches.

The best six national campers who have excelled in all tests of fitness, agility, athleticism and mental toughness and who shall have proven themselves to be total basketball players will emerge as the Jr. NBA Philippines Team.

They will be sent to the US to watch an NBA game live and play against the Jr. NBA US Team.

The 2008 Jr. NBA Philippines presented by Hi-Smart has reached out to over 200 schools across the country this year, reaching approximately 20,000 students, parents, and coaches.

Two sets of coaches clinics were conducted in Cebu and Manila on Nov. 12 and Nov. 15-16, respectively, by NBA coach Frank Lopez, Jr. Its aim was to involve coaches in the intensive basketball training, skills development and grassroots talent identification in the Visayas and the NCR, for starters.

Jr. NBA, the leading youth basketball program in the United States that is also in China, Japan, England, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Canada, Puerto Rico, the Marianas Islands and the Philippines serves players, coaches, parents and officials and teaches young athletes the Jr. NBA S.T.A.R. values: Sportsmanship, Teamwork, Attitude, and Respect.

This is the second consecutive Jr. NBA program in the Philippines. It is presented by Hi-Smart with Associate Partners Basketball TV, Caltex, Gatorade, and Spalding. The Official Outfitter is Adidas. The Official Media is the Philippine Star. (PR) (THE FREEMAN)