MANILA, Philippines - Seven bets from the National Capital Region and three Cebuanos took the top 10 slots in the 2011 Jr. NBA Philippines Program which drew to a close at SM Mall of Asia last Monday.
Jarrell Lim, Lorenzo Fernando Navarro, Kobe Lorenzo Paras, Ferdinand Ravena III, Alfred Sajulga, Justin Oliver Serrano and Tsaddy John Tabaldo from Manila and Miguel Kristoffer Competente, Dawn Hynric Ochea and Rendell Thomas Senining from Cebu topped the camp and gained the chance to watch a live NBA game and play against a counterpart Jr. NBA team.
Five players received special awards for their outstanding achievements in the three-day National Training Camp that tested their skills and Jr. NBA core S.T.A.R. values.
Ochea was named the Alaska Most Valuable Player of the camp, Sajulga won the Gatorade Hustle award, Niño Dave Paon took the Asia Miles Sportsmanship honors, John Lorenz Toral received the BTV Rising Star award, and Navarro got the Hi-Smart All Star Player award. Jarrell Lim was selected as Alaska Youth Ambassador.
The top 10 were picked from a group of 50 junior players aged 10-14 who topped their respective regional selection camps last March and made it to the National Training Camp, held at La Salle Green Hills and the SM Mall of Asia.
The young cagers had three days of boot camp – basketball drills, skills tests, stamina challenges, competitive games and fun games with NBA Legend AC Green joining coach Frank Lopez, NBA Asia Head of Basketball Operations Jama Mahlalela, Alaska assistant coach and former PBA star Jojo Lastimosa and PBA Legends Elmer Cabahug and Roehl Gomez in conducting the camp.
“We really gave it our all in this camp that tested us to the limit. We know this is just once in a lifetime and we valued the experience. More than the basketball skills, we learned about friendship and the S.T.A.R. values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude and Respect.”
and we know we will become better persons after this camp - not just good basketball players,” said Senining of University of San Jose-Recoletos, at 5-5 the shortest player in the All Star squad.