2008 Jr. NBA selection camp up at JRU gym

The 2008 Jr. NBA Philippines presented by Hi-Smart starts a selection camp this weekend to choose the best 20 young basketeers from the NCR at the Jose Rizal University gym.

About 200 kids handpicked by their school coaches will show their basketball skills and also learn new concepts, drills and principles from Jr. NBA coaches Jolly Escobar, Ronnie Magsanoc, Benjie Paras and Ryan Gregorio at the two-day camp set 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

On Saturday and Sunday, the 12-14-year-old aspiring cagers from public and private schools will join skills, aptitude and endurance challenges designed to introduce them to basketball fundamentals, competitive games, S.T.A.R. (Sportsmanship, Teamwork, Attitude, Respect) values and the importance of health and fitness.

Shooting skills challenges, dribbling and passing drills, endurance tests, fitness and agility tests and seminars on health and nutrition by Hi-Smart and Gatorade will also be conducted.

The top 20 NCR campers will be chosen at the end of the second day based on their individual skills and aptitude as well as their ability to play with and contribute to team goals.

They will move up to the Jr. NBA National Training Camp scheduled Feb. 27-March 1 in Manila, also at the JRU gym where they will be joined by the 20 top campers from the Cebu camp held Dec. 27-28 at the Cebu School Gym.

The best six campers will be form the Jr. NBA Philippines Team which will be rewarded with a trip to the US where they will watch NBA games and compete with a US Jr. NBA team.

 The Philippine STAR is official media partner of the program. Associate partners are Basketball TV, Caltex, Gatorade, and Spalding. Official outfitter is Adidas.