NBA legend coming but who?

An NBA legend is coming to town in April to attend the Jr. NBA National Training Camp for 50 lucky kids in the 10-14 age group but it’s still a guessing game as to whom the league is sending.

NBA Asia director and country manager of the Philippines Carlo Singson said the other day he couldn’t give a clue as to the next NBA legend to fly in after Luc Longley last year and two other former Chicago Bulls Horace Grant and B. J. Armstrong earlier. If the trend continues, maybe Michael Jordan is coming? Or Toni Kukoc or John Paxson or Steve Kerr? Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman, both ex-Bulls, were here for an exhibition game last year so it’s unlikely they’ll be back so soon.

It’s also possible the NBA will break the Chicago streak and fly over a legend from the Boston Celtics or Los Angeles Lakers. Why not 43-year-old Rick Fox who played for both the Lakers and Celtics? He’s appeared on NBA TV as an analyst and on several TV shows in cameo roles. Fox was once married to actress and singer Vanessa Williams. Another possibility is former Golden State and Indiana guard Raymond Townsend of UCLA. Townsend, 57, is the first and only player with Filipino roots to see action in the NBA. His mother Virginia Marella is from Balayan, Batangas.

“Townsend would be interesting (as) I don’t think we’ve done anything with him,” said Singson on the possibility of bringing the Fil-Am over. Townsend visited the country in 1980 and played a series of exhibition games with other NBA cagers like Cliff Ray, Derrick Dickey and Greg Lee. In 1993, Townsend returned to Manila, exploring the possibility of playing in the PBA but at 37, found no takers.

Singson said no name has been firmed up so the identity of the NBA legend is still up in the air. Former Lakers forward James Worthy, 51, and former Milwaukee Bucks star Marques Johnson, 56, are other options as both are involved in TV work. Also a possibility is Celtics legend Dave Cowens who at 64, has a wealth of basketball experience even as a coach.

To the kids who’ll be invited to the Jr. NBA National Training Camp, interacting with any NBA legend is a dream come true. One of the Jr. NBA Philippine All-Stars who enjoyed their NBA experience in Shanghai last year will never forget meeting Mario Chalmers and Chris Paul. Camillus Altamirano made it to the 10-man elite squad that went to Shanghai and watched a game between the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers. Altamirano said he also met the Heat’s Fil-Am coach Erik Spoelstra.

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The Jr. NBA tour, launched last Jan. 19 at the British School in Global City, continues with a morning and afternoon program for kids at the Ateneo de Davao today. A coaches clinic was held yesterday, also at the Ateneo de Davao campus. The tour had previous stops in Lucena and Dagupan.

After Davao, the Jr. NBA bandwagon will start school clinics in Manila at Rizal High School, Marist School, British School, Malate Catholic School and Ynares Center in Antipolo. Then, the regional selection camps will be set up, first in Davao on March 9-10 then at the Stadia Convention Center in Dagupan on March 16-17, Lucena on April 6-7 and Manila on April 13-14. The 40 top players from the regional camps will join the 10 outstanding cagers from the Alaska Power Camp in the Jr. National Training Camp in Manila on April 26-27. PBA legend Jojo Lastimosa is supervising both the Jr. NBA and Alaska Power Camps.

The highlight of the Jr. NBA program is the selection of the top 10 campers at the SM Mall of Asia on April 28. The Jr. NBA Coach of the Year will also be chosen. The All-Star team with the Jr. NBA Coach of the Year will take a trip abroad in November for an unforgettable NBA experience.

Now in its sixth consecutive year, the Jr. NBA program is the NBA’s youth development platform which commissioner David Stern himself said he is extremely proud of. It exposes kids to the STAR values of sportsmanship, teamwork, a positive attitude and respect and also forms the foundation for the NBA’s future market.

NBA Asia vice president of business development and marketing partnerships Francesco Suarez was at the British School for the Jr. NBA launch and in his remarks, said basketball as a common language bonds people of all ages, races and creeds together. He said embracing the STAR values will lead to kids learning to be disciplined, caring, hard-working and respectful. Suarez joined NBA Asia last April and has over 14 years of experience in sports and entertainment marketing. The Fil-Italian is a Santa Clara University graduate and lives in Hong Kong with his wife and two sons.

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Also at the launch, Alaska vice president for marketing Blen Fernando pledged the milk company’s continuing support for the program. Alaska is now in its third year as the Jr. NBA presentor. Fernando said Alaska is committed to nation-building and excellence with the Jr. NBA program serving as a vehicle to prepare kids for the future with the introduction of the STAR values. Additionally, she said living an active lifestyle means focusing on the elements of nutrition, action and championship. Alaska Aces team manager Dickie Bachmann and coaches Louie Alas, Topex Robinson and Franco Atienza also attended the launch to show their support.

Overseeing the management and growth of the NBA’s basketball development initiatives in Asia is NBA Asia director of basketball operations Sefu Bernard. He will attend all the stops in the Jr. NBA tour. Bernard was the starting point guard and captain of the University of Windsor varsity. He has been involved with the NBA since 2000, initially as a coordinator of community relations for the Toronto Raptors. Bernard holds a FIBA/IOC certification and has participated as a coach with the Canadian women’s and men’s under-17 national basketball teams.