Young ballers spread holiday cheer
PUTTING into action what they have learned beyond basketball, two alumni of the Jr. NBA Philippines program recently spread holiday cheer to children at the Pediatric Ward of the Philippine Heart Center (PHC).
Jarrell Lim and Tyler Tio, All- Stars of the Jr. NBA Philippines in 2011 and 2013, respectively, distributed stuffed toys and lunch boxes to young heart patients in an NBA Cares activity, accompanied by Jr. NBA coach Ruben Lanot and staff members of Larc&Asset PR.
Besides giving gifts, the three Jr. NBA personalities went from ward to ward to talk to the kids and encouraged them to continue their battle against their various conditions.
Staged for nine years already in the Philippines, the Jr. NBA program is the Association’s global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls geared towards teaching fundamental basketball skills and promoting active lifestyles as well as building character and upholding positive values not only in playing the game but also in life in general.
For PHC Chief Nurse Raquel Tejada, the recent Jr. NBA visit did a lot to raise the morale of the children and their parents and inspired parents of previous patients to also engage in charitable works for the kids during the holiday season.
It was also an activity that moved the Jr. NBA All- Stars themselves and something they look forward to doing in the next years.
“We will definitely be back next year and would like to involve more Jr. NBA players in this simple but meaningful endeavor. The Jr. NBA is all about inspiring kids and reaching out to children who need cheering up the most is definitely part of our definition as NBA goodwill ambassadors,” said Lim, now a member of the University of the Philippines men’s basketball team.
The Jr. NBA Philippine returns to the country next month for its 10th year. In 2015, the program gathered a record number of participants from different parts of the country. —