THE biggest basketball development program in the country, the JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska, started its nationwide sweep with an open clinic in northeastern Mindanao in Butuan City, Agusan Del Norte.
The open clinic was a huge success with 493 children participating in the morning session and 318 in the afternoon.
Butuan came to national prominence during the late 1940s to the 1970s as the “Timber City of the South” because of its booming logging industry. Its economy has grown beyond that and now boasts not just of small and medium business entities but also large scale enterprises which led to Butuan being reclassified as a highly urbanized city in 1995.
After the visit in Butuan the JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska went to Davao Jones Academy in Davao. The pool of basketball coaches was reinforced by coach of the Year alumni coach Rael Diaz who is based in Davao City.
The program is a collaboration between Alaska Milk and the National Basketball Association. It aims to teach basketball nationwide and provide opportunities for those who want to pursue the sport as a vocation.
JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska started Jan. 23 and will run until April 24. It will teach youngsters basketball fundamentals as well as core values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, positive Attitude and Respect. It is free and open to boys and girls.
The program consists of four stages: skills clinics in schools and communities, Regional Selection Camps, a National Training Camp and an NBA experience trip.
Other destinations for the skills clinics are Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Dagupan, Iloilo, Metro Manila and Puerto Princesa, and first-time locations in Batangas, Catanduanes and Cavite.
The program will then hold Regional Selection Camps in Baguio, Davao, Cebu and Manila. The top 50 boys and 24 girls from the Regional Selection Camps will advance to the National Training Camp in Manila April 22-24.