Batang Victory Basketball Clinic fosters team building

MANILA, Philippines – The annual Batang Victory Basketball Clinic for Victory Liner employees’ dependents was a success. This year’s basketball clinic was held at three different locations: Caloocan (April 21); Sasmuan, Pampanga; (April 23) and Sta. Cruz, Zambales (April 28).

This year’s Batang Victory culminated at Sta. Cruz, Zambales with an exhibition game that pitted the UP Junior Fighting Maroons dubbed as NLEX Jr. Road Warriors versus the Sta. Cruz Selection. It was a see-saw battle in the early minutes but the more experienced Junior Fighting Maroons prevailed at 57-42. Before the game, the clinic was attended by 197 participants who received freebies like uniforms and basketballs aside from the free snacks.

Coaches for this year came from the PBA team NLEX Road Warriors composed of Jojo Lastimosa (assistant coach), Jay Serrano (assistant coach), Eric Camson (player), Wynne Arboleda (player), Glenn Khobuntin (player) and Harold Arboleda (player). The NLEX Road Warriors was also joined by the University of the Philippines Junior Fighting Maroons basketball team headed by their coach Julius Cenon. This year’s Batang Victory Basketball Clinic staff was formed by NLEX assistant team manager Allan Gregorio. In the past years, coaches of the clinic were from Philippine national team, UAAP Selections and Mighty Sports.

Victory Liner and NLEX Road Warriors forged a partnership in promoting destinations in Northern Luzon in terms of exposure in corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs such as “Batang Victory.”

The Batang Victory Basketball Clinic program started on April 2006. It was the brainchild of Marivic H. Del Pilar, former treasury and marketing head of Victory Liner.  Participants of the program came from the company’s employees’ dependents aged eight to 14 years old. Flagship programs started at four different venues which were in Caloocan, Olongapo, Dagupan and Baguio.

Participants were taught the different fundamentals of basketball like dribbling, shooting, defense, rebounding and passing. The clinic runs for four to five hours per venue.

The venue varies every year but the Caloocan area was specifically chosen as part of the current program objectives. Through the years, the Batang Victory Basketball Clinic was conducted at Malabon, Lingayen, Binmaley, Tarlac, Iba, Zambales, Old Cabalan, Caloocan, Olongapo, Dagupan and Baguio.

“Batang Victory” aims to develop good character and team work among the participants for them to become productive citizens for nation building. It also aims to introduce, provide opportunities and encourage participation for employees’ dependents and visited local youths in creating a passion and exposing them to the values, qualities, and skills required to succeed in basketball and in life.

Victory liner and Doña Marta T. Hernandez Foundation put up a common goal in boosting wellness and healthcare as part of the 10 dimensions of its welfare and sport activities. Among which is the “Batang Victory Basketball Clinic,” which is in compliance with the Department of Labor and Employment’s Family Welfare program.