MANILA, Philippines – When the Jr. NBA Philippines 2013 its main event – the National Training Camp – at SM Mall of Asia on April 28, basketball fans will be treated to a basketball extravaganza starring the acknowledged next generation of outstanding Pinoy basketball players.
The most promising young stars of the UAAP, NCAA and provincial school leagues will pit their talents against each other in an exhibition game featuring Jr. NBA All Stars alumni from 2007 to 2012 who have now suited up for the various collegiate leagues nationwide.
Jr. NBA All Stars alumni bannered by UST Growling Tiger Aljon Mariano, UP Fighting Maroon Henry Asilum, UST junior players John Roald Mayor, Patrick Ramirez, Thristan Laman and Patrick Nigel Go, UE Junior Warriors Itchie Altamirano and Paul Dagunan, NU Bull Pup Hubert Cani, De La Salle Zobel Jr. Archer Aljun Jay Melecio, La Salle Greenhills Greenie Kobe Paras, Ateneo Blue Eaglet Mio Puno, San Sebastian Staglets Carlo Escalambre and RK Ilagan, Jose Rizal Junior Bomber Aldrin Fegidero and Ateneo de Cebu Blue Magis Miguel Competente will see action in the noontime game, which will highlight the last day of this year’s National Training Camp.
NBA Legend Muggsy Bogues, who will arrive in Manila to join the Jr. NBA coaching staff at the National Training Camp, will coach Team Muggsy while PBA Legend Jojo Lastimosa will coach Team Jolas. A players’ draft will be held on April 13 to determine the composition of each team.
This is the first time that a Jr. NBA All Stars Alumni game will be played as part of the Jr. NBA event.
“Everybody’s so excited because it is a first for the Jr. NBA. The program has grown and evolved through the years and this new event will show why these young players were chosen as the best of their respective batches, and why they are today’s most promising varsity players in school leagues all over the country,†said Carlo Singson, NBA Asia Country Manager-Philippines.
The National Training Camp is the third and highlight phase of the Alaska-backed Jr. NBA Philippines. Later in the day of April 28, new Jr. NBA All Stars will be selected from a pool of 50 participants aged 10 to 14 years old who stood out in the Regional Selection Camps held in Dagupan, Davao, Lucena, the NCR and the Alaska Power Camp.
The new batch of Jr. NBA All Stars – like the Jr. NBA All Stars Alumni – will be rewarded with an authentic NBA experience abroad plus the chance to play against a counterpart Jr. NBA team there.
This is the sixth consecutive staging of the Jr. NBA in the country.