Jr. NBA in Cebu breaks all school clinic attendance records

CEBU, Philippines - Jr. NBA action returned to Cebu last Saturday with school clinics conducted at Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu and broke all existing school clinic attendance for Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines presented by Alaska Milk.

The 1,152 Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA participants from 86 schools, 11 cities and three 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.

The record number in Cebu overshadowed the record-high attendance established in Davao at the Ateneo de Davao covered courts in 2013, which was 1,113. 

This year, Jr. NBA Philippines has expanded to include Jr. WNBA—a new program introduced exclusively for girls. Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2014 also conducted a Coaches Clinic yesterday at the same venue.

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

The 2014 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 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 provinces who tried out in the Cebu regional selection camps.  (FREEMAN)