Lastimosa leads Jr NBA All Stars on US trip

MANILA, Philippines - Coach Jojo Lastimosa accompanies the Jr. NBA All-Star Philippine team flying to Los Angeles, California for the Jr. NBA All-Star’s NBA Experience Trip on Nov. 14-18.

Making up the team are Samuel Abuhijleh of San Beda, Vince Ferrer of UST, Miguel Fortuna and Marco Sario of La Salle Zobel, Gian Mamuyac of Ateneo, Paolo Rivero of La Salle Greenhills, Tyler Tio of Xavier School, Pawandeep Singh from Pampanga, Anthony Sistoza from Gen. Santos City and Mahloney Tarranza from Davao with Coach of the Year winner Raymon Mercader.

They were chosen from thousands of young ballers who participated in the 2013 Jr. NBA presented by Alaska, getting the chance to visit the US, watch an NBA game live, meet and greet NBA players and play a friendly match with a local team.

The Jr. NBA was introduced in the Philippines in 2007, conducting sports clinics, training camps, coaches’ clinics, and providing children an opportunity to train under Jr. NBA coaches and compete with varsities abroad.

In 2008, the program expanded from 16 schools to more than 200, reaching approximately 20,000 participants in the country.

The Jr. NBA and Alaska forged a partnership in 2011, linking the Alaska Basketball Power Camp and the Jr. NBA program.

They sent the Jr. NBA All-Star Philippine team to Hong Kong in 2011 then to China last year.

Internationally, the Jr. NBA program has reached players, coaches, parents and officials from 65 leagues in more than 10 countries and territories.

In its seventh season, the Jr. NBA has more than two million players (boys and girls ages 5-14), coaches, parents and officials involved in a global program of 1,500 recreational youth basketball leagues which emphasize fundamental skill development, teamwork and sportsmanship.