THE Alaska JrNBA and JrWNBA Philippines flew down south to the Fruit Basket of the Philippines Davao City to find the best young basketball players in Mindanao during the Regional Selection Camp at the Ateneo De Davao University home of the Blue Knights last weekend.
Seven boys and four girls were selected from 543 participants, who came from all over the southern-most island group in the Philippines, to advance to the 2016 National Training Camp.
The girls are Aloha Marie Betanio, 12, of Malaybalay City Central School; Rozie Amatong, 11, of Modern International Learning Center; Kate Buenaventura, 13, of Ateneo de Davao and Marcila Grace Dellosa, 14, of F. Bangoy National High School.
The boys include Lance Centeno, 13, of Ateneo de Davao; Tryon Limar Langala, 14, of St. Mary’s School; Anscar Mamac, 14, of Holy Child College of Davao; Rysan Villasenta, 13, of Holy Child College of Davao; Joven Neil Deligero, 13, of Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School; Alfonso Luis Candari, 13, of Ateneo de Davao; and Louis Andre Joring, 13, of St. Mary’s School.
Amatong, who displayed not just extraordinary dribbling skills but also a smooth stroke all the way out from three-point distance, was easily the standout.
She inherited her love for the game from her father who was a player in his youth. The elder Amatong said her daughter started dribbling a ball when she was just three years old and has never stopped.
Amatong was the youngest qualifier to the National Training Camp last year. This is her second chance to make the All-Star squad. She idolizes Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry and practices most of the NBA star’s moves. She is a true student athlete who will likely become valedictorian when she graduates from elementary school.
The players selected exemplified the Alaska JrNBA and JrWNBA core values of sportsmanship, teamwork, positive attitude and respect throughout the camp.
The eleven young players will represent Mindanao in the Alaska JrNBA and JrWNBA Philippines National Training Camp in Manila this April.
They join the top players from the other regional selection camps from north and south Luzon and the Visayas as they compete to be named the 2016 Alaska JrNBA and JrWNBA Philippines All-Star squad.
Ten boys and five girls will be named to the Alaska JrNBA and JrWNBA All-Star squad. They will enjoy the experience of a lifetime as they travel to an Asian destination to watch an actual NBA game, meet NBA players and play against fellow all-stars from Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia.
The next Regional Selection Camps will be in Cebu (March 5-6) and Metro Manila (April 9-10).
Fifty boys and 24 girls from the camps will advance to the National Training Camp in Manila on April 22-24—where 10 boys, five girls and two coaches—will be named to the all-star teams.
The 2016 Alaska JrNBA and JrWNBA is not just searching for the best basketball players, it also challenges and inspires children to achieve their dreams and aspirations in life. It is free and open to boys and girls born 2002 to 2006.
For general information about JrNBA and JrWNBA Presented by Alaska please visit www.jrnba.asia/philippines, www.alaskamilk.com, and www.alaskapowercamp.com/basketball. For live updates log on to www.playph.com or follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @playph #jrnba #jrwnba.