Prep stars owe future to Jr. NBA

For the seventh straight year, the Jr. NBA is spreading the gospel of basketball throughout the country and three high school stars said the other day they’re highly motivated to go to the next level because of their exposure to the program that will reach out to over 80,000 students, parents and coaches in more than 50 schools and communities this season.

The Jr. NBA program was introduced here in 2007 and for the first time this year, it will include a Jr. WNBA component. The Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA joint platform was launched at the British School in Global City last Saturday with NBA Philippine country manager Carlo Singson anticipating record participation. Singson, who is based in the NBA Asia headquarters in Hong Kong, attended the launch with Wilfred Uytengsu, president and CEO of presentor Alaska Milk Corp.

The program involves multi-stop clinics for coaches and players from January to February, regional selection camps in March, the National Training Camp in April and what is called the NBA experience tour. Last year, the top 10 Jr. NBA campers were flown to Los Angeles for their tour. It was a chance of a lifetime as the campers were special guests during the NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies at the Staples Center last Nov. 15.

The campers were lined up on the court to slap high and low fives with the Lakers as they emerged from the dugout then led to the middle of the floor to receive a $150,000 check from Kobe Bryant as the Lakers’ donation to the relief efforts for typhoon Yolanda victims. The donation was made to the Red Cross. The boys were also given access to the Lakers’ dressing room. Bryant, still recovering from an Achilles heel injury, didn’t play and sat on the bench in a Lakers warm-up suit. The Grizzlies won, 89-86, behind Zach Randolph’s 28 points and Mike Conley’s 11 points and seven assists. The Lakers were led by Jodie Meeks with 25, including 5-of-9 triples. Nick Young came off the bench to scatter 18.

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Three high school sophomore stars who were on the four-day tour said they owe their future to the Jr. NBA program. Tyler Tio, 15, of Xavier, Gian Mamuyac, 14, of Ateneo and Ricci Rivero, 15, of La Salle Greenhills said they’ll always live by the STAR values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, Positive Attitude and Respect which are the cornerstone principles of the Jr. NBA program. It was the first trip to the US for Mamuyac and Rivero. Tio’s mother Tessie and Mamuyac’s mother Gina accompanied the group to Los Angeles. Rivero’s father Paolo is Barako Bull’s strength and conditioning coach in the PBA.

Alaska vice president for marketing Blen Fernando said the tour changed the lives of the campers. “Since the Jr. NBA program, they’ve all been very focused and determined to improve their game,” she said. “Tyler, for instance, has even opened his eyes to possibly playing in the NBA. All his leisure time is consumed with watching NBA games, practicing and learning to upgrade his skills. It’s a wonderful development. They’re definitely stars of the future.”

Tio said he couldn’t believe he got to shake Bryant’s hand. “We were in the center of the court and Kobe came out to give the check,” he said. “I shook his hand. I also got to meet Meeks. I’ve learned a lot from the Jr. NBA program. Whenever I play, I always give my best.” Tio’s idol is PBA player T. Y. Tang, the former Xavier and La Salle guard who used to be his coach. Tio’s mother, however, said her idol is Tang’s Rain Or Shine teammate Chris Tiu, also a Xavier alumnus.

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Tang said Tio’s upside is phenomenal. “He’s 5-11 and growing,” said Tang. “He’s improving every day. He’s the complete package with a high basketball IQ. He knows how to handle the ball, he jumps high, he shoots well. I can see him playing in the UAAP and eventually going to the PBA.” Tio’s mother said her son drinks lots of high calcium Alaska milk to add inches to his ceiling.

Mamuyac said he was excited to meet Lakers guard Steve Nash while Rivero singled out Young as the player who impressed him in the game. The campers said they were also impressed with Memphis’ Randolph, Conley and Marc Gasol.

Mamuyac said the addition of the Jr. WNBA component is a step in the right direction. “It’s a great opportunity for the girls to play and learn,” he said. Rivero said the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA platforms provide a stage for the country’s best players in the 10 to 14 age group to showcase their skills. Tio said the expansion to include the Jr. WNBA is a welcome development. The three prepsters said they still haven’t decided which school to enroll in after high school graduation. Mamuyac and Tio are 5-11 while Rivero, who’s done reverse dunks, is 6-0.

Fernando said this year’s top campers, 10 boys and four girls, will witness an NBA preseason game in Beijing for their NBA experience tour in October. Campers from four more Southeast Asian countries will also converge in the Chinese capital to play games against each other.