8 Boys and 8 Girls Named Newest All_Stars of Jr.NBA Philippines 2017 Presented by Alaska

Youth players from the Regional Selection Camp in Metro Manila shined the brightest among 72 boys and girls in the National Training Camp of Jr. NBA Philippines 2017 presented by Alaska held at the Don Bosco Technical Institute May 12-13 and at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on May 14, attended by Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton and former WNBA All-Star Sue Wicks.

Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls, teaches fundamental skills, builds character, and promotes active lifestyles for Filipinos nationwide.  Payton and Wicks joined Jr. NBA Coaches Chris Sumner and Jeffrey Cariaso in training and working with the young campers throughout the National Training Camp.  Jr. NBA Asia Advisory Council members including NBA Legend Dikembe Mutombo also attended the final day of the National Training Camp.

Eight boys and eight girls—comprised of players from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao—were selected as Jr. NBA All-Stars on the last day of the three-day camp that honed and tested the basketball skills of regional finalists from tryouts staged in Cagayan de Oro, Lucena, Cebu and Manila earlier this year.

Kenji Trey Duremdes, 14, Jan Clement Macalalag, 13, and Victorino Torres, 13, of La Salle Greenhills; Joachim Eddie Laure of University of Santo Tomas High School; Johndel Austria, 13, of Escuela de Sophia-Caloocan; Ian Dominic Espinosa, 13, of Ateneo de Iloilo; Reinhard Jumanoy, 13, of University of San Carlos-North Campus; and Jeryk Dwight Bait, 14, of St. Francis National High School in Lucena represent the boys named as Jr. NBA Philippines 2017 All-Stars.

The girls selected as Jr. NBA All-Stars are composed of Boni Marylene Solis, 12; Jane Araza, 13, and Jeehan Nikaela Ahmed, 13, of Chiang Kai Shek College; Jazmine Ann Maniquis, 13, of St. Paul Pasig; Lindsey Nacional, 13, of La Salle College Antipolo; Camille Nolasco, 14, of Miriam College; and Chinnsai Demana, 13, of the University of the Visayas in Cebu.

Catrina June Biongcog of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan and Jed Cabellon of Southwestern Univerrsity of Cebu meanwhile were selected as the Jr. NBA Philippines 2017 Coaches of the Year.  The Jr. NBA All-Stars together with the Coaches of the Year will be rewarded with an overseas NBA experience later this year and will be joined by fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia.

The following players also received special awards for their outstanding achievements in the National Training Camp: Mariela Avila of Lucena and Zean Paolo Moreno of Cagayan De Oro, Panasonic Rising S.T.A.R. Award; Camille Nolasco of Manila and Ian Espinosa of Iloilo, Cloudfone All-Star Players of the Game;  Princess Delig of Cebu and Johndel Austria of Manila, Gatorade Hustle Award; Yza Camila Alarcon of Manila and Maverick John Vieto of Lucena, Globe Telecom Sportsmanship Award; Camille Nolasco and Joachim Eddie Laure of Manila, Alaska Ambassadors; and Boni Marylene Solis and Kenji Duremdes, Jr. NBA Most Valuable Players.

Additionally, the National Training Camp showcased the fifth edition of the Jr. NBA All-Star alumni game hosting several past Jr. NBA All-Stars who have ascended in the amateur and collegiate ranks, and staged the first ever alumni homecoming of the Jr. NBA Philippines program.

For more information, fans can follow Jr. NBA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jrnbaphilippines.  For all things NBA, fans can visit www.nba.com, like the NBA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/philsnba and follow www.twitter.com/nba_philippines on Twitter.

To learn more about the Alaska Milk Corporation, visit www.alaskamilk.com and www.playph.com.

Orlando Magic's Elfrid Payton and Former WNBA Player Sue Wicks to Coach Filipino Youth at Jr.NBA National Training Camp

The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced that Elfrid Payton of the Orlando Magic and former WNBA player Sue Wicks will travel to Manila to participate in the Jr. NBA Philippines 2017 National Training Camp and help coach players from around the country vying to be named 2017 Jr. NBA All-Stars.  The National Training Camp will be held at the Don Bosco Technical Institute May 12-13 and at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on May 14.

Payton and Wicks will also serve as coaches at the annual Jr. NBA Alumni All-Star Game featuring past Jr. NBA standouts from across the country.  Participation in this year’s program increased by 50 percent from 2016, reaching more than 30,000 players and coaches in cities including Bacolod, Batangas, Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Davao, Lucena, Metro Manila, and Puerto Princesa.

“I’m excited to visit the Philippines for the first time and experience the country’s enthusiastic basketball culture,” said Payton.  “These young players have worked hard to be a part of this camp, and I can’t wait to get on the court with them.”

“Having visited the Philippines before, I’ve seen firsthand the passion that young boys and girls here have for the game,” said Wicks.  “I’m looking forward to the trip and to working with the Jr. NBA participants to help take their game to the next level.”

Payton, who was drafted 10^th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2015.  He averaged 12.8 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game with the Magic this season.

Wicks, a former WNBA All-Star, was selected 6^th overall in the 1997 WNBA Draft.  She spent six seasons in the WNBA with the New York Liberty and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.

The Jr. NBA Philippines 2017 presented by Alaska culminates with the National Training Camp, which features the top 37 boys and top 37 girls participating in advanced fundamental skills training and exhibition games.  The finalists were selected from Jr. NBA Regional Selection Camps in Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Manila, and Quezon, and from the Alaska Power Camp in Manila. 

At the end of the National Training Camp, eight boys and eight girls will be selected as Jr. NBA All-Stars and will embark on an overseas NBA experience trip with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia later this year.  The program will also feature the selection of the 2017 Jr. NBA Coaches of the Year who will join the Jr. NBA All-Stars on the overseas trip.

The Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls, teaches the fundamental skills and the core values of the game at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches, and parents.  During the 2016-17 season, the NBA will reach more than 18 million youth in 53 countries through its youth participation initiatives.

The Jr. NBA Philippines presented by Alaska continues to promote proper nutrition and an active lifestyle, serving as an effective platform in implementing Alaska Milk’s NUTRITION.ACTION.CHAMPION. program that helps address the issue of overweight and undernourished children in the Philippines.

Cloudfone, Gatorade, Globe Telecom, and Panasonic serve as Official Partners of the Jr. NBA in the Philippines, while Spalding is a Supporting Partner.  ABS-CBN Sports + Action, Basketball TV and NBA Premium TV are the Official NBA Broadcasters of the Jr. NBA in the Philippines.

Fans can follow Jr. NBA at www.jrnba.asia/philippines and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jrnbaphilippines.  For all things NBA, visit www.nba.com and follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/philsnba) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/nba_philippines).

To learn more about the Alaska Milk Corporation, visit www.alaskamilk.com and www.playph.com.

About the NBA

The NBA is a global sports and media business built around three professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, and the NBA Development League. The league has established a major international presence with games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 49 languages, and NBA merchandise for sale in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on 6 continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2016-17 season featured a record 113 international players from 41 countries and territories. NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com and the NBA App, which achieved record viewership and traffic during the 2015-16 season. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 1.3 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms. Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.

About Alaska Milk

Alaska Milk recognizes the need of Filipino children for proper nutrition.  According to the 2011 National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), it was revealed that 3 out of 10 children aged 5-10 years were underweight while 8 out of 100 children of the same age were overweight, making malnutrition and obesity two of the most pressing nutritional problems in the Philippines today.  Alaska Milk is committed to help provide proper nutrition through its leading brands, Alaska Powdered Milk Drink and Alaska Chocolate Powdered Milk Drink.  It contains 20+ essential nutrients that help children reach their full growth potential.  Aside from proper nutrition, an active lifestyle is needed in order to shape and nurture healthier children.  Because of this, Alaska Milk encourages children to “go out and play” through its NUTRITION. ACTION. CHAMPION. programs: Alaska Basketball and Football Power Camps and Cups, Alaska IronKids Triathlon, Alaska Family Run and Alaska Cycle Philippines.  At the same time, Alaska Milk has a professional basketball team, the 14-time PBA champion, Alaska Aces, which continues to inspire the youth to become future champions who are guided by positive values.  Finally, Alaska Milk partners with excellent local and international organizations who share the same objectives, vision, and values namely the Philippine Basketball Association, National Basketball Association, World Triathlon Corporation, Cycle Asia, Makati and Alabang Football Schools and Sunrise Events, Incorporated.

*This is Press Release

Lebron James Tops NBA's Most Popular Jerseys List in the Philippines

2016 NBA Finals MVP LeBron James captured the top spot on the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) list of most popular jerseys in the Philippines, the NBA announced today.  Highlighting sales from the four NBA Stores in the Philippines, the list features reigning back-to-back NBA MVP Stephen Curry at No. 2, and four-time NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving at No. 3.

The Golden State Warriors lead the list of most-popular team merchandise, followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers at No. 2 and the Los Angeles Lakers at No. 3.

Rankings are based on in-store sales since the beginning of the 2016-17 NBA season.

Top 10 Selling Jerseys

1.      LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers

2.      Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

3.      Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers

4.      James Harden, Houston Rockets

5.      Dwyane Wade, Chicago Bulls

6.      Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs

7.      Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

8.      Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors

9.      Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

10.  Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls

Top 5 Most Popular Teams

1.      Golden State Warriors

2.      Cleveland Cavaliers

3.      Los Angeles Lakers

4.      Chicago Bulls

5.      San Antonio Spurs

Fans can purchase NBA merchandise through the four NBA Stores in the Philippines, located in Manila at Glorietta 3, Mega Fashion Hall, TriNoma, and in Cebu at Ayala Center.

NBA Launches Network of International Basketball Schools

The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced the launch of NBA Basketball School, a network of tuition-based basketball development programs around the world open to international male and female players ages 6-18. 

The first NBA Basketball School launched today in Mumbai, India as part of a multiyear agreement announced today with India On Track (IOT), one of India’s leading sports management, marketing and development companies.  Additional NBA Basketball Schools will be launched in India and around the world in the coming months.

The new initiative adds an additional layer to the NBA’s existing basketball development efforts, including the Jr. NBA, Basketball without Borders (BWB) and NBA Academies.

The Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls, will help identify young players who have the talent to attend NBA Basketball Schools.  From there, the top players at each NBA Basketball School will have the opportunity to be selected to attend NBA Academies, the league’s network of elite basketball training centers around the world to develop top international male and female prospects.  Registration to attend the NBA Basketball School in Mumbai is now open at indiaontrack.nba.com. 

“Our goal is to inspire more young male and female players to learn the game under the guidance of established coaches with proven training techniques,” said NBA Vice President, International Basketball Operations & Head of Elite Basketball, Brooks Meek.  “The NBA Basketball School builds an additional track between the Jr. NBA and NBA Academies with the goal of increasing the pool of players who have the talent to attend our academies around the world.”

“There has never been a more exciting time for the growth of basketball in India,” said NBA India Managing Director Yannick Colaco.  “Between NBA Academy India welcoming 24 elite prospects and the launch of NBA Basketball Schools with our partner India On Track, we are investing more than ever in identifying and training India’s aspiring young players.”

“We are now at the cusp of a new phase in India’s sporting journey, and to ensure its continued growth we need to lay down strong foundations for basketball,” said India On Track Founder and Chief Executive Officer Vivek Sethia.  “This initiative jointly executed by the NBA and India On Track will help to create a platform to identify and engage the untapped basketball potential in India thereby creating a larger talent pool for academies to choose from.”

Each NBA Basketball School will feature year-long, tuition-based programs open to international male and female players ages 6-18.  The NBA Basketball School curriculum, which is designed to help players, parents, coaches and organizations better understand the process of improvement, has been developed by the NBA’s Elite Basketball Development team in consultation with current and former NBA coaches, former NBA players, and player development experts.  The comprehensive curriculum covers oncourt training, strength and conditioning, and basketball education for young players ages 6-18 and will be implemented by local coaches working directly with the NBA’s International Basketball Operations staff around the world.

The NBA Basketball School in Mumbai builds on the NBA’s existing basketball and youth development initiatives in India.  The Reliance Foundation Jr. NBA program has reached more than 3.5 million youth and trained more than 3,000 physical education instructors nationwide since its launch in 2013.  In November 2016, the NBA announced its plan to launch NBA Academy India, an elite basketball training center in Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) for the top male and female prospects from throughout India.  NBA Academy India, the first of its kind in the country, will open in May.

*This is Press Release