Jolas all the way with Jr. NBA

MANILA, Philippines - PBA legend Jojo Lastimosa said the other day he’s fully committed to participate in the four-step sixth staging of the Jr. NBA program this year and called on aspiring players from 10 to 14 to join the clinics in Lucena, Dagupan, Davao and Manila.

Lastimosa, the PBA’s Rookie of the Year in 1988 and a 15-year pro, said there’s nothing like being involved in a camp with the NBA’s imprint. “It’s not only about improving skill levels but also instilling values,” he said. “With the NBA, you’re sure that there’s technology in the program because of the participation of foreign coaches like Sefu (Bernard). This is my third year with the Jr. NBA program but my first on a full-time basis. I’ll continue to run my Power Camps with Alaska and my summer tournaments but the Jr. NBA program is something I’m totally committed to. When we finally choose the 10 best campers to form the 2013 Philippine All-Star team, it’s certain they’ll be heavily scouted by college coaches from all over the country.”

Lastimosa will personally supervise the Jr. NBA camps with his own coaching staff consisting of Dino Ponce-Enrile, Eric de la Cuesta and John Ramirez. Alaska Powdered Milk Drink is the Jr. NBA’s presenting partner for the third straight year.

Carlo Singson, NBA Asia director and country manager for the Philippines, said he expects this year’s Jr. NBA program to reach out to a record 500 schools and more than 60,000 players, coaches and parents. 

“The Jr. NBA program is the NBA’s youth development platform,” said Singson. “This started as a dream in 2007 when we launched the program in the Philippines with less than 1,000 participants. We’re extremely proud of this program and no less than Commissioner (David) Stern has encouraged us to continue making it grow. This year, we’re introducing the program to two new cities, Lucena and Dagupan. We’ve also expanded our marketing tie-ups and for the first time, we’re linked up with the SM Group to show Jr. NBA videos in theaters.”

The first step in the program is conducting coaches and school clinics in Lucena, Dagupan, Davao and Manila up to Feb. 23. The Manila leg will consist of stops in Rizal High School, Marist School in Marikina, British School Manila, Malate Catholic School and Ynares Center in Antipolo. Then the regional selection camps will open in March with Manila the last stop on April 13-14. 

From the regional selection camps will emerge the top 40 young basketball players to join the 10 most outstanding Alaska Power Campers. The 50 players will participate in a three-day National Training Camp in Manila culminating in the All-Star Game at the Mall of Asia on April 28. An NBA legend will fly in to join the festivities. Last year, former Chicago Bulls center Luc Longley was the NBA legend who arrived. The highlight of the National Training Camp is the selection of the Jr. NBA Coach of the Year and the 10 best players to form the Philippine All-Star team that will be rewarded with an NBA experience trip, the fourth step, in November.

Last Saturday, several Jr. NBA graduates attended this year’s launch event at the British School. Among the former campers were Kobe Paras of La Salle Greenhills, Thirdy Ravena of Ateneo, Lorenzo Navarro of San Sebastian and Camillus Altamirano of the University of the East.

Paras, 15, Ravena, 16, and Navarro, 15, were in the Jr. NBA program two years ago. They were on the All-Star team that went to Hong Kong in an NBA experience trip. “I’ll never forget my time with the Jr. NBA program,” said Paras whose father Benjie is a PBA legend. “The Jr. NBA camp gives you an opportunity to improve your skills, learns the STAR values of sportsmanship, teamwork, positive attitude and respect and show what you can do. My older brother Andre and I are working hard to become better players so that one day, we will be able to achieve what our dad, who’s our inspiration, achieved. We hope to follow in his footsteps.” The 6- 3 Paras, an incoming high school junior, recalled that he made his first dunk at 13 but didn’t polish it until last year.

Ravena, who is 6-2, moved from La Salle Greenhills to Ateneo after Grade 5 and now plays for the Eaglets. “The Jr. NBA program makes you a better player on the court and a better person off the court,” said Ravena whose father Bong is a PBA legend, too. “My older brother Kiefer inspires me to be competitive, that I shouldn’t just settle for par. Whenever we can, we play 1-on-1 and he gives me pointers. There’s pressure on both of us because everyone knows our dad was a great PBA player but we take it as a challenge to be the best we can be. I owe a lot to the Jr. NBA program for pushing me to work harder.”

Altamirano, 15, was with the Jr. NBA program last year. His NBA experience trip was in Shanghai. “We played a game against a Shanghai school and we won, 95-25,” said Altamirano whose uncle Eric coaches the NU senior men’s varsity. “We watched a game between the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers and got to meet coach (Erik) Spoelstra, Mario Chalmers and Chris Paul. It was an experience of a lifetime.”