Search for future Philippine cage stars resumes with Jr. NBA camps

MANILA, Philippines — The Jr. NBA Philippines is back, and this year’s iteration tips off on January 13 at the Don Bosco Institute in Makati where the camp is set to run until May 2018.

The program, which is presented here by Alaska, remains free and open to boys and girls ages 10-14 throughout its four stages: skills clinics in schools and communities, Regional Selection Camps, a National Training Camp and an NBA experience trip.  

Since its launch in 2007, Jr. NBA clinics have been implemented in 110 cities and municipalities across the country and the 2018 program will return to key provinces, including Agusan Del Norte, Batangas, Benguet, Cavite, Misamis Oriental and Negros Occidental.

Regional Selection Camps will be held in Bacolod (February 10-11), Butuan (February 24-25), Baguio (March 17-18) and Metro Manila (April 7-8), with the top 37 boys and 37 girls advancing for the National Training Camp in Manila in May 2018, which will feature an NBA and WNBA player or a league legend.

“For the past 10 years, Jr.  NBA Philippines has established itself as a platform to improve the youth basketball experience and promote an active and healthy lifestyle among the Filipino youth,” said NBA Philippines Managing Director Carlo Singson.

The program will culminate with the selection of 16 Jr. NBA All-Stars, comprised of eight boys and eight girls, who will embark on an overseas NBA experience trip with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia.  Prior editions of the Jr. NBA Philippines program have featured notable alumni such as Aljon Mariano, Kobe Paras, Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Ricci Rivero, and Kai Sotto.