Chasing the dream

MANILA, Philippines – Four young basketball players moved one step closer  to their dream after advancing to the nationals out of 181 aspirants aged 10-14 years old in the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA presented by Alaska regional training camp at St. Paul University Gym in Surigao City last March 8-9.

Anton Angelo Arevalo of Cagayan de Oro, Chris Charle Butcon of Butuan and hometown boy Kelvin Pacatan of Surigao will represent Mindanao in the Jr. NBA National Training Camp (NTC) slated on April 25-27 in Manila.

Meanwhile, Cheriebelle Agape also from Surigao is the lone Mindanao representative in the Jr. WNBA NTC.

Answered Prayer

Arevalo, who travelled nine hours from Cagayan de Oro to reach Surigao with his father and coach, was ecstatic when his name was called at the end of the two-day clinic after he almost lost hope of joining the clinic.

“I’m so happy and it was an answered prayer,” said Arevalo, who almost lost hope of joining the regional training camp due to age eligibility. 

“Unexpected kasi akala ko hindi na ako makakasali dahil ang alam naming cut-off (birthdate) is March 8 pero at the 11th hour nalaman namin na March 2 pala,” explained Arevalo, who turned 14 last March 4.

“Worth it yung nine hours na biyahe,” Junie, Arevalo’s proud father, said.

Butcon said he will bring the STAR values, which stands for Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude and Respect, back to his high school team in Butuan, a three-hour ride from Surigao. 

Pacatan, who bucked a knee injury after colliding with another aspirant during the scrimmages, is proud and excited to represent his hometown in the national training camp.

“Masaya na may halong excitement kasi malapit na eh,” said Pacatan referring to the national training camp in April. “I’m a proud Surigaonon.”

Supportive Parent

Agape, who will be among the first batch of the newly-introduced Jr. WNBA program in the country, said she was influenced to pick up the game of basketball by watching his father and his friends play in their neighborhood.

Liza, Agape’s mother, was very supportive of her child’s dream. 
“Ang saya, umiiyak nga ako kanina doon (sa side) nung natawag pangalan niya,” Agape’s mother said.

“Sinasamahan ko nga siyang magwork-out kahit madaling araw kasi as parent, kailangang suportahan ko siya. Pero nung umpisa ayoko dahil nga panlalake ang basketball pero nakita ko na talagang pursigido siya,” she added.

The 100 percent backing of Agape’s parents inspired her during the camp that enabled her to grab the lone spot in the NTC.

Jr. NBA coach Louie Gonzales, who serves as the regional camp director, stressed the importance of the role of the parents in developing their children to become champions not just in basketball but more importantly in life as general.

“The parents [and even the coaches] play a big role to produce champions.  At this age bracket, it is important that they are provided with proper, hands-on guidance,” Gonzales said. He also said that it is high time to erase the notion that “basketball is only for boys” mentality.

“It’s the first time that we are having this program for female children at this age group.  It does not mean that when you play basketball, tomboy (lesbian) ka na,” Gonzales said.

Proper nutrition as basic foundation

Gonzales, who served as assistant coach at FEU in the UAAP and in the PBA before concentrating on the Jr. NBA and WNBA program, also pointed out the importance of laying down the foundation properly.
“We have to prepare them early.

First, they have to learn the fundamentals of movement especially at the age of 8-10. By the time that they reach the age of 10, then they can do layups by both hands,” he explained.”

He also emphasized in the minds of the aspirants and the parents in attendance about nutrition as big part of building the foundation.

“If their bodies are not ready, then they will not be able to play properly. You can’t have body mass, develop agility if you don’t have proper nutrition,” Gonzales added.

According to Food and Nutrition Research institute (FNRI) and Department of Health (DOH), obesity is one of the most prevalent nutritional problems of Filipino children.   Alaska partnered with the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA program to help curb this problem and build the foundations for future champions.
Gonzales was assisted by Alaska Power Camp basketball coaches John Ramirez and Dino Ponce-Enrile. The Manila-based coaches worked hand in hand with the local coaches led by two-time Jr. NBA-Alaska coach of the year top ten finalist Clint Mondano of the St. Paul University-Surigao. 

The 181 aspirants went through an intensive training free of charge that started off with the skills stations which included shooting a layup, passing and jump shots where they were scored accordingly in a tally sheet that was designed to make them realize the need to develop and improve on their weaknesses rather than just highlighting their strengths.

Eoseff Daniel Irlandez emerged as the top player during the Skills Test in Day One with a total of 74.1 points  Irlandez was selected as one of the alternates in case a member of the top three boys will not be able to attend the NTC.

After the skills station, the aspirants moved on to more advanced transition drills, team  and game concepts before they were trimmed down from 181 to 42 (36 boys, 6 girls).

The two-day clinic ended with the final scrimmages featuring the final 42 divided into 4 boys’ teams and two girls’ team. 

Gonzales and his staff graded the players based on 50 percent in skills and the other half on the STAR values with Arevalo, Butcon, Pacatan and Agape emerging as champions.

The top four will join the other aspirants from the different regional camps in the NTC where 10 young boys and 5 girls will be selected to make it to the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA All-Star Philippine team at the end of the intensive three-day camp to be supervised by Jr. NBA Asia coach Sefu Bernard and a guest NBA legend together with PBA legend and Alaska Head of Basketball Operations Jojo Lastimosa.

The All-Star selection will get to experience watching an NBA game live and meet several NB A players.  Last year, the Jr. NBA All-Star Philippine team watched a Los Angeles Lakers home game against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Staples Center and were able to meet NBA superstar Kobe Bryant.

The Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA presented by Alaska helps the young basketball aspirants to chase their dream of becoming champions through the sport and the STAR values.

Chase your dreams and join Alaska’s sports programs now!

For more information on Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA Philippines, visit www.jrnba.asia/philippines
For Alaska Basketball Power Camp, visit www.alaskapowercamp.com/basketball and for live Twitter updates, follow @ALASKAsportshub.