The four standouts were chosen from a field of 198 participants in the first Regional Selection Camp of the NBA league’s international youth basketball program which was held at the Seminario de San Jose in Tiniguiban, Puerto Princesa February 21 and 22.
On the first day, boys and girls aged 10 to 14 underwent vitals tests, basketball drills and skills tests, aptitude and endurance challenges and learned the Jr. NBA core values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude and Respect. The top performers of Day 1 returned on Day 2 for more basketball drills and exercises and were given the chance to display their basketball savvy via scrimmages.
At the end of Day 2, Jan Patraic Tinbancaya from Palawan State University, Jazeel Jared Trinidad and Gerald Dagot from Palawan National High School and Mary Nicole Carlos from Palawan State University were chosen as the four players who would represent the region at the National Training Camp, the high point of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program.
The young players impressed Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Camp Director Chris Sumner who said: “We had a nice turnout and the the three boys that we got were very talented. They were very versatile and athletic and I’m excited to see them grow. I think they have a good chance to compete for the All-Stars. As for the young lady, she is is awesome. She would cut to the offense, and cut to the defense. I’m excited about what she can do in Manila.”
The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Regional Selection Camps will be held next in Biñan, Laguna this weekend (February 28-March 1), then Iloilo (March 7-8), Baguio (March 14-15), Bacolod (March 21-22), Davao (March 28-29) and lastly, Manila (April 11-12). The Selection camps are run by Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Coach and Camp Director Sumner assisted by Alaska Power Camp Director Jeffrey Cariaso and other Alaska coaches led by PBA legend Topex Robinson.
The chosen players in Palawan and the other selection camps will join the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA National Training Camp that will be held in Manila from April 24-26. The NBA’s international developmental basketball program first came to Palawan in 2012 and returned in 2014. A local Palaweño, Paul Harley Dagunan of San Miguel National High School was chosen as a Jr. NBA All-Star in 2012 and is now playing collegiate basketball in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA National Training Camp will culminate with the selection of 10 Jr. NBA and five Jr. WNBA All-Stars who will embark on a unique, overseas NBA experience together with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia. The Coach of the Year presented by Alaska will also be announced at the National Training Camp which will be attended by NBA talents.
The program is free and open to boys and girls between 10 and 14 years old.
Registration is now ongoing through the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA event website www.jrnba.asia/philippines, where full program terms and conditions can be found. Fans can follow Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA 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).
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