Alaska Jr. NBA Camp reaches out to kids at the grassroots level
Whether you are wearing slippers or the new Air Jordans, you can still be the best basketball player of this generation.
These are the words of NBA coaches to their wards during the daylong clinic held at Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati City last month.
"Basketball should act as the equalizer. Whatever your status in life, as long as you can play the game, you have a chance to make it big," said Carlo Singson, NBA Philippines managing director.
Over 300 participants attended the event co-presented by Alaska where their fundamental skills were sharpened.
The goal now shifts to grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth national experience for players and coaches.
The program is free and open to boys and girls between the ages of 10 to 14.
This season, the program will reach more than 6.5 million youth in 32 countries.
The Junior NBA is comprised of four stages: skills clinics in school communities, Regional Selection Camps, a National Training Camp and an NBA experience trip.
The skills clinics will be held nationwide from January to April with stops in Bukidnon, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Dagupan, Davao, Iloilo, Metro Manila and Puerto Princesa. In addition, new locations include Batangas, Catanduanes and Cavite.
Outstanding players from each location will be handpicked to showcase their skills in tryouts during regional selection camps. The top 50 boys and 24 girls from the regional selection camps will advance to the National Training camp in Manila on April 22 to 24.
The regional training camps were held in Baguio (Feb. 20 to 21), Davao (Feb. 27 to 28), and will be held in Cebu (March 5 to 6) and Metro Manila (April 9 to 10).
NBA coaches include Craig Brown, Jeff Christensen and Chris Sumner along with Alaska Power Camp coach Jeff Cariaso.
The selection of 10 Junior NBA and five Junior WNBA All-Stars will be the culmination of the event. An overseas NBA experience trip together with fellow Junior NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia is the top plum for the participants.
"The Philippines is our top market. Our challenge is how to satisfy the fans. Activities like this that has been in the running for nine years is where we conduct free clinics for the youth and coaches.
"We believe that basketball is not for the elite but for everybody. So we provide equal opportunity for them to learn and hone their skills," Singson said.
He said that one of NBA's goals in PH is to create a pathway for coaches and players to succeed. "We want them to have the Star value. Star being an acronym for Sportsmanship, Teamwork, positive Attitude and Respect," he adds.
"These holistic programs train children to be confident, disciplined and hardworking because Alaska Milk Corp. aims to prepare them to be winners in life," said Blen Fernando, Alaska's marketing director.
On the matter of finally having a fullblooded Filipino in the NBA, Singson believes that it's only a matter of "when" not "if."
"We have so many talented Filipinos here. We just have to instill the right habits. Even the coaches are talented. So we have elite camps to teach them how to coach or improve their coaching skills," he said.
Aside from player camps and clinics, the 2016 NBA coach of the year started last Jan. 22. Led by coaches Brown and Sumner together with Cariaso, 10 Junior NBA and Junior WNBA coaches will be selected as finalists and to be trained at the National Training Camp.
On the subject of the Filipinos lacking in height, Singson deems it as a nonproblem. "What height problem?" he asked. "The height problem should be compensated with skills and right attitude. They don't need to be six feet tall to play basketball," he said.
"The program continues to positively impact the lives of children, parents and coaches. It reinforces the positive values that go beyond the four corners of the court. Together with Alaska, we are committed to providing world- class basketball instruction to more communities to further our mission of encouraging an active lifestyle among Filipino youth," Singson said.
You may register online at www.jrnba.asia/philippines.