8 aspirants make it to Jr. NBA & WNBA national training camp

MANILA, Philippines – Eight kids – four from Pangasinan, two from Pampanga, one from La Union and one from Baguio City– are going to Manila to represent North Luzon in the National Training Camp of Jr. NBA Philippines 2014 presented by Alaska on April 25-27.

Zoren Solis of Cherished Moments School and Aaron Coquia of St. Albert the Great School in Dagupan; Lorenz Pangan of the Infant Jesus Learning Center in San Fernando, Pampanga  and Mark Mallari of Systems Plus College Foundation in Angeles City, Pampanga; Joshua Lopez of Agoo Kiddie Special School of La Union and Jac Macasaet of Berkely School in Baguio City will join three boys from Surigao, six boys in Iloilo and seven from Cebu in the National Training Camp of the Jr. NBA Philippines 2013 presented by Alaska – the three-day boot camp that will test the young participants’ basketball skills and smarts and how they exemplify the Jr. NBA core values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude and Respect (STAR).

Two sisters from Dagupan City – Kristine Cayabyab of West Central Elementary School and Mary Ann Cayabyab of Judge Jose de Venecia Sr. Memorial High School -- meanwhile will join the lone girl chosen in Surigao, the three girls chosen in Iloilo and three more in Cebu as National Training Camp finalists in the first-ever Jr. WNBA program in the country.

The Jr. NBA Philippines program has been held consecutively in the country for the past seven years, but now the introduction of the first-ever Jr. WNBA program enables girls to take part in the NBA’s youth developmental basketball program as well.

The selected players were among the Top 40 performers chosen on March 29, Day 1 of the Dagupan Regional Selection Camp held at the CSI Stadia in Dagupan City.  282 kids aged 10-14 – 259 boys and 23 girls – attended the camp. The participants hailed from the provinces of Pangasinan, Pampanga, La Union, Baguio City, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac.

The Dagupan finalists were chosen for their all-around basketball skills and how they exhibited the Jr. NBA’s core S.T.A.R. values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, (a positive) Attitude and Respect by the Jr. NBA evaluation committee headed by Jr. NBA coach Chris Sumner, Specialist of Basketball Operations of NBA Asia and PBA Legend Jojo Lastimosa of the Alaska Power Camp

Two more Regional Selection Camps will be held in Puerto Princesa and Manila on April 5-6 and April 12-13, respectively. The players who make it in the Regional Selection Camps will proceed to the National Training Camp where they will be joined by 10 more top performers from the Alaska Power Camp. Fifty boys and 24 girls will make up the National Training Camp which will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Tent on April 26 and 27 and at the SM-Mall of Asia on April 27.

NBA talents will arrive in Manila for the National Training Camp and join the coaching staff of the Jr. NBA.

Registration for the upcoming Regional Selection Camps can be made online on the Jr. NBA website www.jrnba.asia/philippines or on site before the start of the clinics.

Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA is presented by Alaska Milk. Gatorade and Phoenix Petroleum are Official Partners, while KFC and Spalding are Supporting Partners. The SM Mall of Asia and SM Cinemas are the Official Venues for Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA. Official NBA Broadcasters are Basketball TV, NBA Premium TV and ABS-CBN Sports. Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA is also supported by the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines (BCAP).

The Jr. NBA program was first conducted in the Philippines in 2007 and has more than doubled in participation in the past six years. Each year a new city benefits from the grassroots basketball program that involves not just young players but also their parents and coaches. This year, more than 80,000 students, parents, and coaches will benefit through Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA activities including camps and clinics, NBA Cares outreach activities, television programs and digital initiatives. Registration is now ongoing through the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA event website www.jrnba.asia/philippines. Fans can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jrnbaphilippines. For all things NBA, visit us at www.nba.com and follow us on our official Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/NBA_Philippines.