300 young cagers attend AirAsia four-leg clinic

MANILA, Philippines - Close to 300 athletes from various schools in Pampanga took part in the four-leg basketball clinic launched by AirAsia and inaugural ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) champion Philippine Patriots over the weekend.

AirAsia top executives and members of the Patriots team, including newly appointed skills coach and PBA Hall of Famer Billy Ray Bates graced the event dubbed “AirAsia Jam” at the Philippine Air Force gym in Clark, Pampanga.

“AirAsia has constantly dedicated itself to supporting sports, not only abroad but also here in the Philippines,” said AirAsia Inc (Philippines) CEO Maan Hontiveros, noting the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia has long been the title sponsor of the Patriots.

“Today, we are taking our partnership a step farther with a community project which aims to involve Filipino kids and their parents in basketball,” she added.

Patriots team owner Mikee Romero said it’s always been a privilege to work hand-in-hand with AirAsia especially for a noble cause such as holding cage clinics.

“This is our humble way of giving back to basketball fans, who are a part not only of the Philippine Patriots’ success, but of the ABL as well. That’s why we didn’t have any second thoughts when the plan to come up with a series of basketball clinics were first brought up in partnership with AirAsia,” said the former cage godfather.

After Pampanga, the clinic, backed by Gerry’s Grill, PG Flex, Campbridge Paints, Aquabest, Accel, Molten, Erase Placenta, Lifeline, Business World, Avis and Harbour Centre will be held in Caloocan City on Nov. 5, followed by Don Bosco School in Makati on Nov. 25, before returning to Angeles, Pampanga on Dec. 5.

Hontiveros also lauded the effort of the 55-year-old Bates, who showed his skills in shooting, ball-handling, and dribbling.

“These kids may not be familiar with Mr. Bates but I am sure their parents can very well recall how Billy made an impression as one of the best imports to have ever played in Philippine basketball history,” said the AirAsia official.