THE 2016 Jr. National Basketball Association (NBA)/Jr. Women’s NBA (WNBA) returns to the country for the ninth consecutive year with free-for-all basketball clinics that kicked off on Saturday and will run through April 24.
The league’s global youth basketball program—presented by Alaska—will be held nationwide for kids aged 10 to 14 and will have stops in Bukidnon, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Dagupan, Davao, Iloilo, Puerto Prinsesa, and first-time spots in Batangas, Catanduanes and Cavite. Select players from these clinics will have an opportunity to showcase their skills in tryouts during the Regional Selection Camps in Baguio (February 20 and 21), Davao (February 27 and 28), Cebu (March 5 and 6) and Metro Manila (April 9 and 10).
Top 50 boys and 24 girls from these regional clinics will advance to the National Training Camp in Manila from April 22 to 24.
“The number of coaches we have are great. The kids are excited, and we hope that we can smash records,” National Basketball Association Philippines Managing Director Carlo Singson said.
The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA teaches fundamental skills in basketball, as well as the core values of the game at the grassroots level.
“This will be the biggest program yet for Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA for the Philippines. We have created something new for the players. The coaches will be hands-on in spreading the cause of our program,” Singson added.
More than 36,000 players and 2,700 coaches have participated in the program since its inaugural staging in 2007 with many of their products now playing in several leagues in amateur and professional ranks.