Alaska, NBA team up to promote basketball

MANILA, Philippines - Two international institutions in basketball renew their partnership this year, fulfilling their mission of enriching the lives of Filipinos through sports.

Alaska Milk Corporation, which leads the country in sports development, again teams up with the biggest, most popular basketball league in the world – the National Basketball Association – through its Jr. NBA program.

The Alaska-Jr. NBA partnership was formally launched 10 a.m., Jan. 14 at the Treston International College, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

“Alaska is committed to developing talent at the youth level and we are pleased to return as presenting partner of the Jr. NBA,” said Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, Jr., president and CEO of Alaska Milk Corporation. “The Jr. NBA is a great fit with Alaska’s mission to nurture talent and promote a healthy lifestyle through sports from a young age and we look forward to another successful program this year.”

The camps, which started Jan. 15, resume February to March in Metro Manila leading up to the regional selection camps in Puerto Princesa, April 10 and 11; Cagayan de Oro, April 14 and 15; Pampanga, April 17-18; and Manila, Apr 21-22.

At the same time the Alaska Basketball Power Camp kicks off with camp director Jojo Lastimosa, Cebu camp director Roehl Gomez, Dickie Bachman and Topex Robinson conducting their own selection process.

Upon completion of the Regional Selection Camps the top 40 players will be joined by the top 10 players from the Alaska Power Camp. They will participate in the three-day Alaska-Jr. NBA National Training Camp to be held in early May in Manila.

The program will culminate with the selection of the Alaska-Jr. NBA All-Star Team which will give the 10 best campers a unique NBA experience and the opportunity to play against other school basketball teams from other countries.

Meantime, the top 10 finalists from the 2012 Alaska-Jr. NBA Coach of the Year will be invited to participate in the Alaska-Jr. NBA National Training Camp as assistant instructors. The eventual winner will be announced on the last day of the National Training Camp.

Coaches interested in joining the search for Coach of the Year can log onto the Jr. NBA website, www.jrnba.com.ph for more details.

Alaska Milk expands its basketball development program through the partnership with Jr. NBA. The Alaska Sports Development Program includes among others the Alaska Power Camp and even football through the Alaska Football Cup.

Alaska Milk teaches our young athletes the values of sportsmanship, teamwork, attitude, and respect for each other through the Alaska-Jr. NBA partnership. Alaska makes sure that the kids learn the importance hard work and perseverance and that success is not handed as a gift on a silver platter but a prize to strive for.

Through its sports development programs Alaska Milk gives children in the Philippines the opportunity to fulfill their lifelong dreams through sports.