Jr. NBA 2018 kicks off talent search

Expect over 250,000 young players and 900 coaches from across the country to enhance their skills at the grassroots level this year after the Jr. NBA Philippines 2018 presented by Alaska kicked off yesterday at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati City.

“For the past 10 years, Jr. NBA Philippines has established itself as a platform to improve the youth basketball experience and promote an active lifestyle among the Filipino youth,’’ said NBA Philippines managing director Carlo Singson.

Top products of the Jr. NBA Philippines include rising stars Kiefer Ravena, Kobe Paras and Jonas Mariano.

“Together with Alaska, we are committed to provide proper guidelines on how the game should be played and taught to the youth, coaches and parents in the country,’’ added Singson.

The league’s global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls will be held in 40 key cities and provinces until May as part of the NBA’s effort to encourage youth basketball participation.

The program remains free and open to boys and girls age 10-14 throughout its four stages—skills clinics in schools and communities, regional selection camps, a national training camp and an NBA experience trip.

“As part of our long-standing partnership with the NBA, Alaska Milk Corporation is proud to play an active role in shaping the basketball players of tomorrow through good nutrition and proper life values,’’ said Alaska Milk Corporation marketing director Blen Fernando.

PBA players Ravena and Mariano are just some of the notable alumni of the Jr. NBA program in Philippines as well as Kib Montalbo (2010), Paras and Thirdy Ravena (2011), coach Aldin Ayo and Aljun Melecio (2012), Ricci Rivero (2013) and Kai Sotto (2016).