AFTER a nationwide search participated in by close to 21,000 basketball players, the JrNBA/JrNBA Presented by Alaska formally named the 10 boys and five girls who will join its two all-star squads after its three-day National Training Camp last weekend.
The yearly program, now on its ninth year, started with the basketball training camps held all over the Philippines, followed by the Regional Selection Camps in Baguio, Cebu, Davao and Manila and finally the NTC in Pasay.
The all-star squads will enjoy an NBA experience along with other selections from Southeast Asia countries Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia. The squads will fly to China, play exhibition games against the other squads, meet NBA stars and legends and watch a pre-season NBA game.
New Orleans Pelicans point guard Norris Cole and WNBA legend Taj McWilliams-Franklin were present at the NTC to help train and inspire the 50 boys and 24 girls that emerged from the Regional Selection Camps.
Literally standing out from all the rest, 6’9” Kai Zachary Sotto finally made it to the all-star squad after three tries. The 13-year-old did not make it past the regional camp two years ago. He made it to the finals last year as a 6’4” 12-year-old.
The product of St. Francis of Assisi School in Las Pinas City was also named the JrNBA NTC Most Valuable Player.
The other boys include Jearico Nunez (UPHSD), Miguel Rey Luis Tan (Xavier), Julian Alfonso Jugo (LSGH), Isaiah Miguel Blanco (LSGH), Tracy Carl Dadang (University of San Carlos), Ric Ozner Gatuz (Cherished Moment School Pangasinan), Andrei Philip Lechoncito (SJI Bacolod), and Fritz Felix Valencia and Harold Alarcon (Tay Tung HS in Bacolod).
Darlien Ragasajo and Florence Jil Talas of Abellana National School from Cebu, Nicky Quilenderino of Dalig National High School in Antipolo, Rozie Amatong of Modern International Learning Center, and Aloha Marie Betanio of Malaybalay CCS were selected to the JrWNBA all-star team. Talas was named JrWNBA NTC Most Valuable Player honors.
Alaska Marketing Director Blen Fernando said she is happy that more and more girls are participating in the JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska.
“I have long wanted the JrWNBA included in the program. Look at the UAAP. The girls are the stars. That is why we want more girls to participate. But I’m not happy yet. There is still much to be done,” said Fernando.
Additionally Jugo and Amatong – who displayed exemplary perseverance, cooperation, and respect for others – were chosen to be Alaska Ambassadors of Goodwill.
Cholo Elegino of Ateneo de Davao was selected Coach of the Year for boys and former national basketball team standout Ewon Arayi of Magi’s Academy of Pasig for girls.
Sotto’s father is Philippine Basketball Association player and former St. Francis star player Ervin Sotto.
Sotto was an instant social media hit. Two days after the RSC at the Don Bosco Technical Institute it was announced that he had joined the Under-16 national training pool. Scouts from different high schools were falling all over each other trying to recruit him. In the end Sotto committed to enroll at the Ateneo De Manila University.
NBA Philippines Managing Director Carlo Singson promised even bigger things for the program’s 10th year next year.
“Together with Alaska, we are committed to providing world-class basketball instruction to further our mission of encouraging an active lifestyle among Filipino youth. We look forward to seeing more players next year as it will be our tenth year of staging the Jr NBA,” said Singson.
The JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska was supported by CloudFone, Gatorade, and Globe Telecom as Official Partners and Spalding. ABS-CBN Sports + Action, Basketball TV and NBA Premium TV are the Official NBA Broadcasters of the JrNBA/JrWNBA Presented by Alaska in the Philippines.