By Ivan Saldajeno
MAKATI--The start of the 2016 Jr. NBA Philippines camp has been set.
The youth basketball camp series announced on Friday that its ninth edition will start on Jan. 23 at the Don Bosco School.
The said event will kick off a series of skills clinics in schools and certain communities all across the nation to start the 2016 Jr. NBA season.
After the Makati leg, the Jr. NBA will make stops in Bukidnon, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Dagupan, Davao, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Batangas, Catanduanes, and Cavite.
"This year’s program includes new locations such as Batangas, Catanduanes, and Cavite to reach more children and coaches and discover unique talents across the country,” Blen Fernando, the marketing director of Alaska, the basketball camp series' major sponsor, explained the addition of the said provinces, which will be hosting a Jr. NBA camp for the first time.
The best players from the skills clinics will be invited to the regional selection camps in Baguio, Cebu, Davao, and Pasay.
Fifty boys and 24 girls will then be chosen to participate in the national training camp on April 22-24 in Pasay, where an NBA and a WNBA player will be invited as guests to join the camp.
The ten best boys and five best girls from the national camp will be declared as this year's Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA All-Stars and will be given a chance to watch an NBA game live in flesh abroad.
NBA Philippines Managing Director Carlo Singson said, “The [Jr. NBA] program continues to positively impact the lives of children, parents, and coaches, and 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.”
Online registration for players aged 10-14 and coaches is still ongoing at www.jrnba.asia/philippines.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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