Westports Malaysia take Game 1 of ABL semis

c/o Norman Goh

Westports Malaysia Dragons took Game 1 of their best-of-three ASEAN Basketball League semifinal matchup, defeating the Saigon Heat, 84-68, last Saturday.

The Heat were without Moses Morgan in this matchup, as he was still suffering from the ill effects of an inadvertent elbow from Qingde Wu during their 100-73 loss to the Singapore Slingers a week earlier. Already suffering a broken nose as a result, he also had been experiencing headaches during practices in the run-up to the semis, which forced him to sit out the game.

His absence was felt initially, with Malaysia scoring the first eight points of the match. However, that did not deter the team, with David Arnold, Paul Williams, and Lenny Daniel keeping Saigon within striking distance, eventually whittling down the deficit to just three after one quarter, 21-18. They would even take the lead on Daniel's triple just before the midway mark of the 2nd quarter, 26-24.

It wold eventually finish with a slim 35-33 halftime lead for the Dragons.

Ariel Vanguardia made the necessary adjustments during the break for the third period, as the Dragons began to go to Reggie Johnson in the post, scoring ten points. However, Saigon remained within striking distance by the end of the quarter, thanks to Daniel and Han Minh Trieu, as they still trail, 57-52.

The Heat finally wilted in the fourth quarter, as Johnson continued his rampage in the final quarter, while Shee Fai Loh began to make his shots and Jason Brickman's playmaking took its toll on the visitors.

Johnson finished with 29 points on 10/17 shooting, 23 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.

Matthew Wright added eighteen markers, while Loh contributed 13 points off the bench.

The halftime adjustments "opened up everything," according to Vanguardia, noting that they "got away from what we're doing." He added they that "buckled down defensively," highlighting that they limited them to under 70 points. Ariel also cited the absence of Morgan as a factor in the slow start, as it threw them off-guard with their preparations.

Johnson also shared that same opinion with Vanguardia, saying that they were taking too much jumpers, pointing out that if they make "bring the ball inside out, they gotta help down and it opens threes."

Daniel finished with 29 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks to lead the Heat. Arnold and Williams each scored 13 markers.

Game 2 of this semifinal match-up will be on March 4 at Saigon's CIS Stadium. The Heat will have to win to force a winner-take-all or else Westports Malaysia will secure a finals berth.

The Barangay Ginebra 3-on-3 tournament set to launch

Barangay Ginebra 3-on-3 Tournament

The 3-on-3 phenomenon continues with its growth.

The latest campaign to join in this campaign is this project from Ginebra San Miguel.

The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament will take place across the country for those who are over the age of 18.

Participants just need to collect either GSM Blue caps or Ginebra San Miguel seals.

Champions will be determined within the barangays, with the winners to receive PhP 3,000 and GSMI products. They would then get a crack to be a national champion, as the top sixteen teams across the country will participate in a knockout tournament.


The inaugural qualifier will happen on March 12 at Santolan, Pasig City. Teams from Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan Laguna, Quezon Province, Cavite, Bulacan, Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Paranaque, Rizal, Pasay City, Cebu, Davao and Bacolod will have their respective qualifiers until May 7.

More details about this can be seen on the Ginebra San Miguel Facebook page.

NBA x Project Runway crossover

This past Sunday, an interesting crossover between two properties that Solar Entertainment Corporation have rights to took place.

On the latest episode of Project Runway Philippines, the competing Pinoy fashion designers went to the NBA Store in Glorietta for their latest challenge: to create a fashion look out of the items available at the said store.

Overseeing the festivities in that episode is NBA Philippines country manager Carlo Singson, who also gave his own sense of fashion with his suggestions and tips for the designers. Acting as one of the guest judges for this episode is Rain or Shine's versatile swingman Gabe Norwood.

Replays of this NBA crossover edition for Project Runway: Philippines are as follows:

August 19: 10pm
August 20: 3am, 10am, 5pm
August 22 1pm
August 23 8am

The concept of basketball players becoming fashionable was an offshoot from David Stern instituting a dress code a decade ago in 2005. The then-commissioner noted that players should be wearing a "business casual" attire in all "team or league activities." In addition, certain players have decided to create their own unique style, like a Dwyane Wade or a Russell Westbrook. In fact, LeBron James designated Rachel Johnson back in 2006.

Nowadays, the pre-game and post-game scenes could be a witness to a fashion innovation or even a fashion faux pas.

LeBron James in Manila for the Rise Beyond Belief tour

In line with its Rise campaign, LeBron James will be making his return to the highly-anticipated Philippines next week.

James will be tasked to mentor the Rise players and serve as their inspiration. His backstory is a good illustration of perseverance and overcoming adversity. After all, he has been the subject of scrutiny since high school, and his relentless drive and desire for greatness provides a template for these youngsters to follow, as they make the attempt to rise above it all.

LeBron will also make the announcement as to who will make the final cut. Those who were selected will comprise Team Rise for their final task.

Team Rise ain't the only ones who would have the chance to "Witness Greatness." Just like his previous visit here, the Mall of Asia Arena will serve as a venue for one of his activities. This time, it will be on August 20, and fans, much like the that time back in 2013, will have the chance to be in attendance. How?

1. Fans will have to visit http://gonike.me/LebronJamesRiseTour starting August 14 at 9am.

2. Follow the instructions on the site in registering, and if successful, they will be receiving a confirmation e-mail.
3. Fans will need to present that e-mail and a valid ID to a Nike store at the designated date and time from August 15-18 to claim the tickets.

In addition, a "Rise Beyond Belief" photo booth will be set up at the Fort branch of Nike Park, in which fans could have the chance to be part of a special photo mosaic of James.

Fans can watch Nike Rise on all Sundays of August, 6pm, on TV5. In case you want to relive the episodes, you can head to Sports5.ph or on Nike Philippines' YouTube page.

NBA and Under Armour expand current partnership

The NBA announced on Monday that it is expanding its partnership with Under Armour (UA).

The up-and-coming American sporting apparel brand, which has had a relationship with the NBA since 2011, earned the nod of becoming the title partner of the NBA Draft Combine (starting in 2018). This specific agreement means that upcoming NBA Draft prospects will be in UA gear during the entirety of its event. UA will also develop a retail apparel line based from the combine for the fans to purchase.

As a presenting partner for the US-based Jr. NBA program, UA will help the league with its expanded efforts to get the youth out to play. Through basketball clinics, skills challenges, and regional tournaments conducted with the assistance of youth basketball organizations, the NBA aims to reach out to five million kids aged 6-14 y/o and develop within them a lifelong passion with the sport.

It is also important to stress out that the Jr. NBA Program not only teaches them the fundamentals of the sport, but also them the STAR values (sportsmanship, teamwork, a positive attitude, and respect) that would serve them well outside of the court.

In addition to the two programs, the NBA will utilize Under Armour's Connected Fitness platform as the basis for its NBA FIT App, which fits the league's thrust in encouraging people to have a healthy and active lifestyle. The application will have training tips and fitness-related content, among other things.

UA also secured a global content partnership with the league, which will come in handy particularly with marketing and promoting its athlete endorsers (i.e. Stephen Curry, Kemba Walker, Brandon Jennings, Greivis Vasquez and Emmanuel Mudiay). It will also be make its presence felt at some of the NBA events, like the All-Star Game, for instance.

Under Armour EVP for Global Marketing Adam Peake expressed pride in having this expanded partnership with the NBA, noting that this will allow them to "leverage our leadership in athletic performance innovation and Connected Fitness to foster the worldwide growth of basketball." He adds that this shared commitment will help basketball players everywhere realize their potential both on and off the court.

NBA EVP for Global Markerting Partnerships Emilio Collins says that both the NBA and UA have a shared commitment to basketball, fitness, and healthy living. This latest alliance, allows them to not just teach the values of the game to millions of kids though the Jr. NBA Program, but a chance to educate the fans with the latest on exercise know-how and wellness information via the NBA Fit app.

No details have been made available as to how the Philippines will be affected by this partnership. When asked for comment on Twitter, NBA Philippines' Carlos Singson is excited about this collaboration and sees UA as a "very cool brand."

NBACares visits Project Pearls

NBACares in Bocaue first went to the Project Pearls Learning Center to do some painting.

One of the things that Alec Burks conducted when he was here was a NBACares activity.

The guard from the Utah Jazz, alongside SE Asia Director for NBA Basketball Operations Craig Brown visited Bocaue, Bulacan on Thursday morning. Whilst many in Manila were focused on the scheduled Metro Manila Shake Drill; Burks, Brown, NBA Country Manager Carlos Singson, and PBA players Ranidel de Ocampo and Jayson Castro of Talk 'N Text, as well as Beau Belga of Rain or Shine painted murals at the Project Pearls Learning Center.

They then headed to the nearby PNP Covered Court to conduct a short basketball clinic for the kids. as part of NBA Fit Week PH.

NBACares capped off their activity with Project Pearls with a basketball clinic

Those who are interested with the advocacy of Project Pearls can check out their website.

Debut of Nike: Rise tomorrow

The much-anticipated Nike: Rise reality sports documentary will be telecast tomorrow night, 6pm on TV5.

The first episode sees Chot Reyes meeting the 24 kids selected from the tryouts that took place across the country, with NBA star Paul George dropping by to kick off the training at the House of Rise in Mandaluyong City.

It also serves as a means to share the background of some of these kids, a background filled with non-believers in their skill and talent. Some have their own kind of warts. In addition, they didn't exactly have the perfect kind of training that other athletes have secured, and as such, they will be coming in raw.

George will assist Reyes in teaching the kids during this episode. He is familiar with having to deal with a meteoric rise, from being an unknown and mysterious entity to becoming the Most Improved Player to becoming a superstar. His story is also about determination, as he still continues to comeback stronger from his injury.


The trailer for the first episode can be seen below.

Khris Middleton and Alec Burks to come to the Philippines for NBA Fit Week

A couple more NBA players have been confirmed to participate in the Pinoy version of NBA FIT Week, which aims to highlight the importance of healthy living through these three pillars: being active, eating healthy, and playing together.

Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks and Alec Burks of the Utah Jazz will be joining current NBA TV analyst Brian Shaw to kick off the festivities with the Gatorade NBA Training Center on July 29.

Middleton averaged 13.4 points, 4.4 rebs, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 steals in 79 games for Milwaukee this past season, numbers that netted him a $70M extension in the offseason.

Burks was limited to just 27 games this past season due to a shoulder injury that necessitated surgery, averaging 13.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3 assists. He said in the team website that he is "honored to have been asked" to come here and "be able to represent the Jazz for NBA Fit Week." He adds, "This is a great way to share the game of basketball and to give back to these elite athletes."

Set to take place at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong, the Gatorade NBA Training Center gathers elite instructors in the fields of basketball, fitness, conditioning, and nutrition to share the latest techniques and know-how to Filipino athletes and coaches.

This is the second-ever iteration of the event, with then-Trailblazers Robin Lopez and Wes Matthews accompanying then-ESPN NBA analyst Avery Johnson last year.

Aside from the Gatorade NBA Training Center, there will be a few more stuff lined up for NBA FIT Week, including a NBA Cares activity with Project Pearls in Bocaue, Bulacan, as well as the NBA FIT Adi Nation Skills Camp for 9-13 y/o varsity kids at the end of the month.

Brian Shaw set to train Pinoys on NBA Fit Week

To kick off the NBA Fit Week in the Philippines, current NBATV analyst Brian Shaw will be headed to the country to provide instructions for its upcoming activities, in accordance with the NBA FIT's three pillars of healthy living (being active, eating healthy, and staying together).

Shaw will be present for the 2nd-ever Gatorade NBA Training Center at the Gatorade Hoops Center on July 29. He'll also participate in a NBA Cares activity with Project Pearls (with 40 kids) on July 30 at Bocaue, Bulacan, as well as the NBA FIT Adi Nation Skills Camp (with youth varsity players aged 9-13) on July 31.

The former coach of the Denver Nuggets will also share his personal drills and training techniques with the likes of LA Tenorio, Jeron Teng, Gelo Alolino, Von Pessumal, Mike Tolomia and Kevin Ferrer, while also teaching coaching philosophies to professional and collegiate tacticians in a special session.

"I look forward to visiting Manila and witnessing first-hand the passion of the Filipino players and coaches. The Philippines has produced great basketball talent, and I’m excited to share my knowledge with the participants to help them take that next step." - Brian Shaw

The Gatorade NBA Training Center gathers elite instructors in basketball, fitness and conditioning, and nutrition and have them share their techniques and other know-how to Pinoy athletes and coaches. The first edition took place last year, with then Portland Trailblazers Robin Lopez and Wesley Matthews and then ESPN analyst Avery Johnson visiting.

Details on the Gatorade NBA Training Center can be seen on Gatorade Philippines' Facebook page.

Cebu takes Tatluhan title, earns Manila Masters slot

MEMBERS of Pura- Cebu pose, along with SBP executive director Sonny Barrios, 3rd left, SBP administrative and legal consultants Moying Martelino, 2nd left, and Atty. Edgar Francisco, left, and SBP deputy executive director Bernie Atienza, right, after ruling the SBP-Talk 'N Text U18 Tatluhan National Finals at Robinson’s Place Manila in Ermita.

A group of Cebuanos claimed the recently-concluded SBP-Talk 'N Text U18 Tatluhan National Finals at the Robinson's Place Ermita.

Composed of Carlo Cesar Ortega, Jaur Edrel Ignam, Lucky Ecarma and Errol Pastor; Pura of Cebu defeated Olongapo (composed of Allen Fomera, Edler Tirona, Renz San Luis, and Mark Macatlang, who are all from Lyceum-Subic), 21-12 to rule the nationwide tournament.

To gain entry in the finals, Cebu defeated Bacolod, 13-12, while Olongapo defeated Ateneo de Naga, 16-15. Naga then defeated Bacolod, 17-14, to claim third in this tournanent.

In taking home the championship, Cebu gets a slot in the FIBA 3x3 Manila Masters on August 1-2, as one of the three Pinoy teams, with the other two being PBA selections.

In the previous edition of the Manila Masters, Manila West (composed of Terrence Romeo, Aldrech Ramos, Rey Guevarra, and KG Canaleta, with Eric Altamirano and John Flores as head coaches) secured the title over Qatar to gain entry into the finals in Sendai, Japan.

For the 2015 edition, which will be held at Robinson's Place Manila, the top two teams will make it to the finals in Abu Dhabi on October 15 and 16. Joining them will be the outstanding teams from the other stops in the FIBA 3x3 scene for this year: Prague, Beijing, Lausanne, Mexico City, and Rio de Janeiro.

Pinoys set for FIBA U18 3x3

The 2015 FIBA Under-18 3x3 World Championships will kick off tomorrow in Debrecen, Hungary; with the Philippines seeking to make an impact in the global scene in this novel version of the sport of basketball.

The Pinoy quartet of Kobe Paras (LA Cathedral HS), Mike Nieto (Ateneo de Manila University), Ricci Rivero (La Salle-Greenhills), and Richard Escoto (Far Eastern University) are seeded into Group A, alongside hosts Hungary, Kazakhstan, Russia, Poland, and Uruguay. Accompanying the players are LSGH head coach John Flores and Philippine basketball legend Benjie Paras, with SBP legal consultant Atty. Edgar Francisco set to join them later on. Francisco will be attending the FIBA 3x3 World Congress that will be held at Kossuth Square.

Their pool schedule is as follows (Manila time):

June 4 vs Poland 10:50pm
June 5 vs Hungary 1:20am
June 5 vs Kazakhstan 11:10pm
June 6 vs Russia 1:40am
June 6 vs Uruguay 8:10pm

Here are the other groups:

Pool B: Andorra, Egypt, Germany, Guatemala, Lithuania, Romania
Pool C: Brazil, Estonia, France, New Zealand, Turkey, Vietnam
Pool D: Argentina, Georgia, Indonesia, Puerto Rico, Spain, United States

There is also a women's version ongoing.

Pool A: Hungary, Spain, Israel, Venezuela, Germany, Slovakia
Pool B: Poland, China, New Zealand, France, Estonia, Guam
Pool C: United States, Italy, Egypt, Switzerland, Romania, Andorra
Pool D: Netherlands, Brazil, Belgium, Czech Republic, Turkey, Indonesia

Side events include a shootout (Qualifiers: June 6 2:10am; Final: June 8, 1:10am), a women's skills competition (Qualifiers: June 5, 11:40pm; Knockout Rounds: June 6, 9pm), and a slam dunk contest (Qualifiers: June 6, 11pm; Semifinal and Final: June 8, 2:10am). Many people remember Kobe's efforts in the previous edition.



Escoto and Nieto will represent the country in the shootout category.

***

In local 3x3-related news, qualifiers for the SBP-Talk 'N Text U18 Tatluhan National Championships are ongoing in 16 municipalities, with the capper to be held at Robinson's Place Ermita on June 21. The champion earns a slot in the 3-team Filipino delegation for the Asia-Pacific FIBA 3x3 World Masters set to take place at the same venue this coming August, joining two PBA selections.

The Philippines seeks to recreate the magic made by the Manila West team of Terrence Romeo, Rey Guevarra, KG Canaleta and Aldrech Ramos, who topped the Manila leg and made it to the FIBA 3x3 World Masters in Japan.

The SBP sees the continued participation of the country in the 3x3 championships as a "high point" for its centerpiece grassroots development program. It already has yielded immediate success, and it is to culminate in the hosting of the World Tour Finals in 2017.

Jr. NBA Alumni Game to form part of the National Training Camp this weekend

One of the highlights for the upcoming Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA National Training Camp this weekend is an alumni game composed of graduates from the Jr. NBA program.

Slated to take place on April 26, the alumni game features ballers who have cut their teeth in the top-tier basketball competitions locally and even internationally.

Among those in the game include La Salle's Kib Montalbo, Ateneo's Hubert Cani, recent SLAM Rising Stars participants Enzo Navarro, Ricci Rivero, Tyler Tio and Aljun Jay Melecio, as well as current NU Bullpup and recent U-16 standout Rhayyan Amsali.

Other alums who will take part are Patrick Ramirez (San Sebastian), Ichie Altamirano (Letran), Thristan Laman (UST), Justin Serrano (Mapua), Regille Kent Ilagan (NU), Henry Asilum, Jarrell Lim and Janjan Jaboneta (UP), Miguel Competente and Mahloney Tarranza (Ateneo de Davao), as well as Carlo Escalambre (San Sebastian?).

Current high school standouts taking part in the alumni game include Vince Ferrer, Vince Dolendo and Jan Cyril Narvasa (UST), Marvin Sario (La Salle-Zobel), Luigi Velasco (La Salle-Greenhills), and Paul Manalang (NU).

Sixers rookie Nerlens Noel and WNBA legend Ruth Riley will serve as the coaches for the Jr. NBA All-Stars Alumni Game.

Slated to attend are Arielle Lanot (La Salle-Zobel), as well as Kreecie Binaohan and Roxanne Salvador (Perpetual Help - System Dalta), who are the first alumnae of the Jr. WNBA program.

The match serves as an appetizer for the announcement of the 2015 Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA All-Stars slated to take place in the afternoon. From over 80,000 students, parents, and coaches, ten boys and five girls will be named as the All-Stars for this year.

Details on the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA program can be seen here, or on their Facebook page.

Nerlens Noel and Ruth Riley in Manila for Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA National Training Camp

The Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA National Training Camp is set to take place next week, and to help commemorate the event, the NBA will have a couple of big men coming in.

Sixers center Nerlens Noel and the recently-retired WNBA legend Ruth Riley will be visiting the Philippines to help coach the top 50 boys and top 24 girls in the National Training Camp, the best players from all the different regional camps held all over the country in the past couple of months.

Noel is fresh from finishing his rookie season with the Sixers, averaging 9.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.9 blocks. The Kentucky alum is excited to have his first NBA overseas trip be the Philippines, acknowledging the country's passion for the sport. He hopes that his presence would be an added motivation for the camp participants.
 Riley was the 5th overall pick in the 2001 WNBA Draft, playing 13 seasons before retiring last year. She had career averages of 6.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.3 blocks, winning two titles with the Detroit Shock in 2003 and 2006.

She says, "It’s great to know how much enthusiasm there is for basketball among girls in the Philippines. I look forward to the experience and to inspiring even more young girls to pick up the game I love so much.”

Noel and Riley join the likes of BJ Armstrong, A.C. Green, Luc Longley, Muggsy Bogues, Gordon Hayward, and Tina Thompson as recent Manila visitors for the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA program. They will be tasked to help Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA head coach Chris Sumner in coaching the participants. In addition, they will serve as head coaches for the annual Jr. NBA alumni game, as well as conduct a basketball clinic in conjunction with NBA Cares and World Vision.

The camp serves as the culminating activity for the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA program this year in the Philippines. The program is the league's foray towards grassroots development in basketball and in promoting an active lifestyle for children, specifically those between 10-14 years old. Not only are they trained to learn the sport's fundamentals, but also to appreciate the core STAR values (Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude, and Respect).

The NTC will take place at the PICC Forum on April 24 and 25, and then move to the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on April 26. It is from here that fifteen outstanding kids (ten boys and five girls) will be named as Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA All-Stars. These All-Stars will join their ASEAN counterparts in having an overseas NBA experience they will surely remember.

They are also going to name the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Coach of the Year by the end of the camp, who will join the All-Stars on that overseas experience.

The Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Program is presented by Alaska. Official Partners are Gatorade, Globe Telecom, and Phoenix Petroleum, with KFC and Spalding as Supporting Partners. Serving as the official broadcasters are Basketball TV, NBA Premium TV, and ABS-CBN Sports+Action. It also has the support of the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines (BCAP).

For more details on the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Program, just check out this link, or head to their Facebook page.

Seventeen chosen from Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Manila Regional Selection Camp

Manila Regional Selection camp scrimmage action

The final Regional Selection Camp for both the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA program concluded this past weekend, with seventeen kids picked out to participate in the upcoming National Training Camp next weekend.

Eleven boys and six girls were luckily chosen out of the 519 participants, with the selections being conducted by the evaluation committee, led Chris Sumner and assisted by the likes of Rodney Santos, Eric dela Cuesta, and Christian Luanzon, as well as Melissa Jacob and Ish Tiu.

Santos says that the committee was impressed by this group, particularly with their confidence in spite of their young age. He believes that they will compete well in the National Training Camp.

The kids underwent testing, drills, and exercises in Day 1, with the top forty performers returning in Day 2 to undergo more intense tests and drills, followed by scrimmages. It is from these, plus how they reflected the program's STAR core values (Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude, and Respect) from which the seventeen were named.

The eleven boys are Stacey Tibayan (Letran), Ruzzelle Andrew Dominguez and Brevin Lyle Competente (National University), Edrian Custodio, Jac Macasaet, and Gab Reyes (La Salle-Zobel), Kai Sotto and Christian Allen Vergara (St. Francis of Assisi College), Vehnjo Maximo (La Salle Greenhills), Jessie Adrian Ortega (Escuela de Sophia), and Ernest John Felicida (Corpus Christi College - Cagayan de Oro).

The six girls are Stephanie Villapando (Trace College), Akemi Manteja and Christine Jazz Ungui (La Salle-Zobel), Nelia Jean David and Micaela Denise Pentecostes (Diliman Preparatory School) and Kyla Flores (Parañaque Science High School)

Felicida was just in Manila for vacation when he tried out and then made it to the selection. Vergara is the first 10-year old to make it to the NTC, and in preparing for the camp, he says, “I will just practice more, drink lots of water and sleep early.”

The National Training Camp finalists of the Manila Regional Selection Camp. (L-R, FRONT): Nelia Jean David, Mikaela Denise Pentecostes, Kyla Flores, Stephanie Villapando, Akemi Marteja, Christine Jazz Unqui; (BACK) Stacey Tibayan, Ernest John Felicida, Ruzzelle Andrew Dominguez, Jac Macasaet, Kai Sotto, Jesse Adrian Ortega, Edrian Custodio, Brevin Lyle Competente, Gab Reyes, Vehnjo Maximo, Christian Allen Vergara and Coach Chris Sumner

Only the selection from the Alaska Power Camp is left, as they complete the NTC participants for the April 24-26 camp at the PICC Forum and the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall. It is from this camp where the ten outstanding boys and five outstanding girls will be named as the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA All-Stars. The All-Stars will then join their fellow ASEAN counterparts, as they partake of an overseas NBA experience. It is also from the NTC that a Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Coach of the Year will be named.

Final Regional Camp for 2015 Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Program set

The final Regional Selection Camp is slated to take place this weekend at the PICC Forum, with the chance to be in the National Training Camp at stake.

On April 11, participants will undergo vitals tests, basketball drills, and skills challenges. Those who excel in those three will proceed to Day 2 of the camp on April 12, where they will have to go through some more focused drills emphasizing their basketball skills, aptitude, and endurance, as well as some scrimmages. They also have to embody the core Jr. NBA values (Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude, and Respect).

The Regional Camp will be overseen by Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA coach Chris Sumner, with the likes of Jeffrey Cariaso, Topex Robinson and Rodney Santos, as well as Ish Tiu, Melissa Jacob, and Lhen Flormata assisting. It is they who will make the decision of who will make the National Training Camp, which is slated to take place on April 24-26. Fifty boys and twenty-four girls will comprise the NTC, which will come from the Regional Camps and from the Alaska Power Camp.

By the end of the NTC, ten outstanding Jr. NBA and five outstanding Jr. WNBA participants will be named as All-Stars, and will be embarking on a unique overseas NBA experience alongside their ASEAN counterparts. The list of All-Star alums include Aljon Mariano (UST), Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Hubert Cani (Ateneo), Kib Montalbo, Lorenzo Navarro (La Salle), Henry Asilum, Jarrell Lim, Janjan Jaboneta (UP), Dawn Ochea (Adamson), Rendell Senining (NU), and Arnie Padilla (FEU).

Five picked from Davao Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA camp

The Mindanao portion of the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Regional Selection camp concluded this past weekend at the University of the Immaculate Conception in Davao City, with five kids picked to be a part of the National Training Camp next month.

Three boys and two girls topped the field of over 250 participants, excelling in the tests, drills, and exercises in Day 1, followed by more intense drills and exercises plus a team scrimmage in Day 2. In addition to their on-court abilities, the five also were selected on how they exemplified the core STAR values (Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude, and Respect) that is a hallmark of the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Program.

For the boys, Paolo Emanuel Antonio (Stella Maris Academy - Davao), Christopher Gonzaga (University of the Immaculate Conception - Davao), and Jeffy Malilim (Corpus Christi School - Cagayan de Oro) were picked for the Jr. NBA program, while Rozie Amatong (Modern International Learning Center - Davao) and Rhea Ville Bausin (Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School - Davao) were named for the Jr. WNBA program.

Rozie in particular, impressed the crowd with heroics, as the 11-year old nailed a buzzer-beater to win a scrimmage for her team. She says, "Basketball is a beautiful game. I especially love the challenge that comes with this sport."

An evaluation committee composed of Jr. NBA & Jr. WNBA coaches made the selections, including the likes of Rodney Santos, Eric dela Cuesta, Christian Luanzon, Ish Tiu and Melissa Jacob. Tiu revealed that while the boys showed exemplary STAR values, the girls were "a package of skill, talent, passion, and perseverance." She feels that the five picked "will compete well in Manila."

The final Regional Selection Camp heads to the PICC Forum on April 11 and 12 for the Manila leg. After this, it will be the National Training Camp on April 25-26. It is from there that the ten Jr. NBA and five Jr. WNBA All-Stars, as well as the Coach of the Year will be named.

14 selected in Bacolod Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA camp

The Bacolod Regional Selection Camp yielded the most successful camp for the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA program, with fourteen kids being called up for the National Training Camp next month.

370 kids aged 10-14 y/o from the Visayas made their way to the St. John's Institute this past weekend to undergo test, drills, and challenges posed by the different coaches who made the trip to the City of Smiles. After the first day, forty were invited to return the next day to continue with the tests and exercises, as well as scrimmages at the end of Day 2. It is from these, as well as those who best exemplify the STAR values (Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude, and Respect) that the selection committee picked the ten boys and four girls to make the trek to Manila in April.

The four girls selected for the Jr. WNBA National Training Camp are Karla Sheen Cotejo (Bacolod City College), Dyna Sicil Nieves (University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos), Luisa Martina de la Paz (University of St. La Salle), and Rodnie Mae Hodilena (Luis Hervias National High School). All of them are Bacolodnon.

On the boys' side, four kids from host school St. John's Institute made it to the final, (Andrei Lechoncito, Daniel Coo, Nicholas Steven Pura, and Kurt Coloso) while five came from Tay Tung High School (Ralph Allen Cagalawan, K Christian Perigua, Kent Dentin Esperagazo, John Dexter Gigantana, and Andy John Villamer).

Also making the trip to Manila is Calbayog City native Kurt Jan Aparri of Christ the King College, needing two boat rides and a long road trip to be able to make it to Bacolod. He shares that he learned a lot from this camp that he can take with him anywhere he will go in his basketball career.

Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA head coach Chris Sumner led the delegation that had overseen the Regional Camp, which included NBA Asia Director for Basketball Operations Craig Brown and Alaska coaches Rodney Santos, Junjun Alas, and Eric dela Cuesta. In addition, Ish Tiu, Vangie Soriano, and Lhen Flormata from the senior women's national team also helped with the camp. Sumner was impressed with the Bacolod turnout, noting the camp's competitive nature forcing the difficult decision of picking the final selection.

Two more Regional Camps are scheduled to take place, with one in Davao at the University of Immaculate Concepcion on March 28-29 and the one in Manila at the PICC Forum on April 11 and 12. Those who are interested can check out www.jrnba.asia/philippines for more details.

Seven selected from the Baguio Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA camp

Jump ball from one of the scrimmages in the
Baguio Regional Selection camp.

The Northern Luzon portion of the Regional Selection Camp for the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA program concluded this past weekend at the St. Louis University Laboratory High School, with seven lucky youngsters getting the nod.

Four boys and three girls impressed the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA coaches (led by Rodney Santos, Junjun Alas, Christian Luanzon, Ish Tiu, Melissa Jacob, and Lhen Flormata) enough to pick them out of the almost three hundred participants and deem them "worthy of inclusion" for the National Training Camp set to take place in April at the PICC Forum. Santos though that this year's participants were in his words, "very impressive." He believes that "they will perform very well" at the NTC next month.

Jan Zyrus De Ayre (Berkley School - Baguio), Magnus Gabriel Ines (St. Louis University Laboratory High School), Christian Allen Magno (St. Albert the Great School - Dagupan), and Manuel Andrey Ober (Dagupan City National High School) represented the boys, while Christine Angela Venterez (Baguio National High School), Christine Cayabyab (Judge Jose de Venecia Sr. Memorial National High School - Dagupan), and Rose Marie de los Santos (St. Albert the Great School - Dagupan) represented the girls. Cayabyab, in fact, made it to last year's NTC, and hopes to impress again in her return.

The seven Northern Luzon kids that will participate in the National Training Camp of Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2015 presented by Alaska. (L-R) Magnus Gabriel Ines (Baguio), Manuel Andrey Ober (Dagupan), Christian Allen Magno (Dagupan), Jan Zyrus De Ayre (Baguio), Christine Angela Venetrez (Baguio), Kristine Cayabyab (Dagupan) and Rose Marie De Los Santos (Dagupan).

These seven kids survived the rigors of the two-day camp, with the first day devoted to skills, tests, and drills to determine the top forty players out of the 295 in the field. Those forty then were subjected to more intense drills, exercises, and scrimmages to help determine the best in their field. Of course, those picked have to exemplify the Program's core values (Sportsmanship, Teamwork, (a positive) Attitude, and Respect.

A couple more regional camps are slated to take place, with Bacolod's St. John Institute hosting one on March 21-22, followed by Davao's University of the Immaculate Conception on March 28-29. The PICC Forum will hold the final Regional Camp on April 11-12 before the NTC takes place.

Interested parties can check out www.jrnba.asia/philippines or www.facebook.com/jrnbaphilippines for more details.

Six selected in Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA camp in Iloilo

Jr. NBA hopefuls battling during the Iloilo camp.

The first Visayan Regional Training Camp for the 2015 Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA program concluded this past weekend in Iloilo City, with another six kids out of the three hundred participants at the Ateneo de Iloilo picked to be in the National Training Camp next month.

The four boys selected are Vince Andrew Jayme (Huasiong College - Iloilo), Ian Dominic Espinosa (Ateneo de Iloilo), and Jann Paolo Villariza and Lucky Charm Ramos (Sun Yat Sen High School). The two girls are Jenedith Ruth Valle (Barrio Obrero National High School) and Shan Sumagaysay (Colegio Sagrado Corazon de Jesus - Iloilo).

Similar to the previous Regional Camps, Day 1 saw the almost 300 children undergo tests, drills and challenges, from which the top forty were asked to return the next day to undergo additional drills and participate in scrimmages and exercises. From these, as well as how the participants exemplified the core Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA values (Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude, and Respect) the coaches, led by Chris Sumner and assisted by the likes of San Sebastian legends Topex Robinson and Rodney Santos, made the decision to select these six finalists.

The finalists of the Iloilo Regional Selection Camp of Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA presented by Alaska : L-R: Shan Sumagaysay, Lucky Charm Ramos, Jann Paolo Villariza, Vince Andrew Jayme, Ian Dominic Espinosa and Jenedith Ruth Valle.

One of the coaches, women's national team stalwart Ish Tiu, said, "that the players have the skill and talent, and yet they have a yearning to learn more and to excel even further." That "spirit of competitiveness," she adds, is what will "put them on good footing" come the National Training Camp at the PICC Forum in seven weeks' time.

The program will head up north to St. Louis University in Baguio City this weekend for the next Regional Selection Camp. After that, three more camps are scheduled to take place, at St. John Institute (Bacolod) on March 14-15, University of the Immaculate Conception (Davao) on March 28-29, and the PICC Forum (Manila) on April 11-12.

Those interested to participate can check the details on www.jrnba.asia/philippines.

Six emerge from Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2015 Binan camp

Ball possession in the Jr. WNBA scrimmages was hotly contested.

Almost 500 kids participated in the Biñan Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Regional Selection camp that took place this past weekend at the University of Perpetual Help System.

Out of those, four boys and two girls were selected a group led by Camp Director Chris Sumner and former PBA head coach Jeffrey Cariaso to be in the National Training Camp next month at the PICC Forum in Manila. The six are the outstanding performers during the two-day camp at the Alonte Sports Arena, with the top forty participants out of the drills and tests from the first day being asked to return the next day to do additional testing and scrimmages. Of course, both days highlight the core values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, (a positive) Attitude, and Respect, which is something the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA espouses.

The six finalists from Binan, with Head Coach Chris Sumner.

They are Karl Georg Clauss (De La Salle University - STC in Sta. Rosa), Joshua Yvan Garing (De La Salle - Lipa), Jalen Angelo Limon (St. Francis School - Biñan) and John Ashley Los Bañez (Canossa School - Sta. Rosa) for the boys, and Luisa San Juan (Amazing Grace School - Laguna) and Pherl Gwyneth Savendano (Christian Values School - Cavite) were selected among the girls.

Regarding the participants, Sumner says: “We found many basketball talents here with good skills, athleticism and great fundamentals. I was impressed with their desire. My advice to them is to practice, practice, practice, and to always be hungry. Not everyone has the chance to be here. They should make the most of it and live the STAR values,”

Iloilo will host the next Regional Selection Camp, set to take place on March 7-8. The other camps will be at St. Louis University (Baguio) on March 14-15, St. John Institute (Bacolod) on March 21-22, University of the Immaculate Conception (Davao) on March 28-29, and the PICC Forum (Manila) on April 11-12.

Interested participants can check www.jrnba.asia/philippines for more details.