MANILA, Philippines – Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2015 presented by Alaska tipped off today, January 24, with a coaches clinic at the British School Manila. The Jr. NBA program, now running for the eighth consecutive year in the Philippines, will reach more than 700 schools and communities nationwide this year. More than 26,000 players and 2,000 coaches have participated in the program since its launch in 2007.
Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA is the league’s international youth development program that promotes basketball participation, sportsmanship and teamwork, and an active lifestyle among children. A follow-up coaches clinic and open clinic for players will be held in Bacolod on January 31 and February 1, followed by a series of school clinics for players across Manila.
Regional Selection Camps, in which players will showcase their skills in tryouts, will be held nationwide from February until April with stops in Puerto Princesa, Binan, Iloilo, Baguio, Bacolod, Davao and Manila in order to select 50 boys and 24 girls to participate in the 8thj annual Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA National Training Camp in Manila from April 24-26.
“The Jr. NBA program has positively impacted the lives of Filipino youth, parents and coaches alike for the past eight years and we are excited for this to continue,” said Carlo Singson, NBA Philippines Country Manager. “Together with our longstanding partner Alaska, we will work to improve and expand on our program, bringing it to more cities and communities each year and making it a more inclusive and unique experience for Filipinos everywhere.”
“The thousands of children who have trooped to Jr. NBA camps all over the country including the impressive turnout of the first ever Jr. WNBA program last year is an overwhelming affirmation that children are indeed meant to go out and play,” said Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, President and CEO of Alaska Milk Corporation. “In 2015, the NBA and Alaska Milk will reach more young aspiring basketball players by bringing in Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA to more cities nationwide. More than just winning a game, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA presented by Alaska encourages children to participate in sports to nurture their talent, live a healthy and active lifestyle, and keep children in winning form.”
The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA National Training Camp will culminate with the selection of 10 Jr. NBA and five Jr. WNBA All-Stars who will embark on a unique, overseas NBA experience together with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia. The program is free and open to boys and girls between 10 and 14 years old.
The search for the 2015 Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA Coach of the Year will begin on January 24 in Manila. Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Head Coach Chris Sumner will oversee the Coach of the Year program along with coaches of the Alaska Power Camp. Ten Jr. NBA and four Jr. WNBA Coach of the Year finalists will be selected to participate in the National Training Camp under Jr. NBA Coaches to enhance their coaching skills. The Coach of the Year winners will be announced at the National Training Camp in Manila, which will also be attended by an NBA and WNBA player or Legend and feature NBA Cares community outreach activities.
Over the past eight years, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA presented by Alaska has helped to foster a healthy lifestyle among children and families through the combination of proper nutrition and active lifestyle. It continues to be an effective platform in activating Alaska Milk’s NUTRITION.ACTION.CHAMPION. program to help fight against the increasing number of overweight and undernourished children in the Philippines.
Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA is presented by Alaska. Gatorade, Globe Telecom and Phoenix Petroleum are Official Partners, while KFC and Spalding are Supporting Partners. Official NBA Broadcasters are Basketball TV, NBA Premium TV and ABS-CBN Sports + Action. Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA is also supported by the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines (BCAP).
The Jr. NBA program was first conducted in the Philippines in 2007. Each year a new city benefits from the grassroots basketball program that involves not just young players but also their parents and coaches. This year, with a first-time stop in Baguio, more than 100,000 students, parents, and coaches will benefit through Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA activities including camps and clinics, NBA Cares outreach activities, television programs and digital initiatives. Registration is now ongoing through the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA event website www.jrnba.asia/philippines, where full program terms and conditions can be found. Fans can follow Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jrnbaphilippines. For all things NBA, visit www.nba.com and follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/philsnba) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/nba_philippines).