MANILA, Philippines - Para sa may edad 12 hanggang 14 taong gulang, hindi dapat kalimutan ang Jr. NBA basketball program. Ito ang isang payo ng anim na top campers ng 2008-09 Jr. NBA Philippines.
“It gives young Filipinos like us the chance to learn world class basketball and it helps boost our young basketball careers,” wika ni Jose Carlo Escalambre, isa sa anim na campers na kinabibi-langan din nina Mark Jayven Tallo, Arc Gabrielle Araw-Araw at Adrian Marvin Roland Muller mula sa Cebu, Michael Jay Javelosa at Aldrin Fegidero na lahat ay mula sa Manila maliban kay Escalambre na galing sa Isabela – at ngayon ay aktibong naglalaro sa iba’t-ibang liga sa kani-kanilang teritoryo.
Ang lahat ng anim na nagtungo sa US noong nakaraang Abril bilang bahagi ng kanilang premyo makaraang manguna sa kanilang Jr. NBA National Training Camp at nabiyayaan ng tsansang makalaro ang New Jersey Jr. NBA All-Star Team at makita ang NBA Legend na si Ron Harper.
“I really learned a lot from the Jr. NBA program. Coach Frank Lopez instilled the values of discipline, hard work and team work in us, and our local Jr. NBA coaches also taught us how to apply the S.T.A.R. values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude and Respect in our everyday lives. It was a once in a lifetime experience for all of us, and we did not spend a single cent for all the training, plus our unforgettable trip to New York last summer,” wika ni Escalambre.
“The Jr. NBA is unique because we learned something much more than we expected. Through fun and motivating ways, we did not only improve our basketball skills, we also learned how to be truly successfully players on and off the court,” dagdag ni Fegidero.
Tinanghal namang Most Valuable Player si Mark Jayven Tallo sa Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CeSAFI).
Sina Araw-Araw at Muller naman ay nakilalang Stockton-Malone duo ng Sacred Heart School Baby Eagles at naghahandang sumama sa National Basketball Training Camp 14-under division, kasama si Fegidero sa January.
Naglalaro naman si Javelosa sa Ateneo sa Metro Manila Basketball League at pasok na sa Blue Eaglets sa pagpasok nya sa high school.
At bilang kapartner, magtatanghal ang Hi-Smart Multivitamins ng seminars sa iba’t ibang Jr. NBA schools upang turuan ang mga kabataan kung papaano matutugunan ng mga mga bata at kanilang magulang ang pangangailangan sa nutrisyon. At ang pagsisikap na ito sa suportado din ng Official Sports Drink Gatorade, Official Broadcast Partner Basketball TV, Official Automobile Partner Mitsubishi Motors, Official Supplier Spalding at Department of Education.