ABS-CBN ignites kids’ passion for sports

ABS-CBN Integrated Sports is taking a more active route in making the young Filipinos grow into individuals capable of bearing the torch of this country in the field of sports.

One of the initiatives is through the S+A Barangay Basketball Clinic, which just finished its last leg last Nov. 26 at Brgy. UP Campus, Quezon City. The first and second legs were held at Brgy. Fatima V, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and Brgy. San Roque, Navotas City.

The clinic is a partnership between Ignite Athletics, ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Tulong Center and ABS-CBN Sports and involves the teaching of basketball fundamentals like shooting, dribbling and passing, and instilling proper training and good basketball habits.

ABS-CBN Integrated Sports head Dino Laurena

ABS-CBN Integrated Sports head Dino Laurena said the goal is to inspire and motivate communities to get children into sports, noting how sports like basketball can help give the youngsters hope and direction in life.

“We’re bringing the clinic to kids who may not be able to afford to enroll in a good basketball training program, who have no access to great coaches, who may not even have a ball to play with or proper shoes to wear. Some of these children are living in poverty or are exposed to harmful distractions. We hope that through this clinic, we help them focus their energies on healthy and positive activities and nurture in them the Pusong Palaban that Filipinos are known for,” he explained.

Dino also said that they saw the potential of sports as a venue for values formation among children. “In our basketball clinic, we invited coaches who can explain to the kids that in sports, you need to be disciplined and be sharp in mind. We want to strengthen their foundation skills-wise, and also inside, so that they can also excel in life.”

So far, the clinic has served 134 kids in its Navotas, Bulacan and Quezon City legs.

At the helm of the clinics was NCAA and UAAP champion coach Koy Banal, one of the founders of Ignite Athletics. Joining him are former athletes-turned-coaches like five-time UAAP champion and former Ateneo Blue Eagle Tonino Gonzaga, Ateneo Lady Eagles and Perlas Pilipinas star Danica Jose and teammate Clarice Aceron, as well as coach Koy’s son Jonathan, who was a Rookie of the Year in NCAA. Also sharing their basketball knowledge were former ASEAN Basketball League Finals MVP Warren Ybañez, coach Joel Banal’s son Juan and ABS-CBN Sports Marketing’s Tonio Silva, relative of Ateneo Blue Eaglets coach Joe Silva and Lemuel Kiong.

“This is our way of giving back from the blessings we received from basketball, to pay it forward for being good to us. Gusto natin na magkaroon ang mga bata ng tsansa sa buhay, through the camps, that they also become disciplined,” said coach Koy, who established Ignite with his brother and coach Joel.

His group focused on polishing the basic skills in basketball, teaching the children the proper techniques in the sport. But more than topnotch training, participants also took home their own S+A basketballs and inspiring words from the coaches.

“Importanteng mag-aral kayo ng mabuti. Para makapaglaro kayo ng maayos,” coach Koy told kids who want to become varsity players.

Like one family, the children share a delicious feast after a fun and inspiring time at the ASA Barangay Basketball Clinic

His assistant coaches also imparted nuggets of wisdom. Jonathan told the kids to always honor and listen to their parents. Tonino encouraged them to enjoy the game and the friendships they will make along the way. Meanwhile, Danica stressed on the importance of family.

On the other hand, NCAA commentator Anton Roxas, who served as program host in all three legs of the clinic, asked a favor from the children. “In the future kapag naglalaro na kayo sa UAAP o NCAA, lapitan niyo ako. Sabihin niyo, Kuya Anton, kasama po ako sa mga sumali sa S+A Barangay Basketball Clinic,” he said.

Leaders from the community expressed their appreciation of the project. Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco said, “this (clinic) helps us to keep the kids off the street… You learn a lot of things from being an athlete, discipline, teamwork and giving everything your best.”

Brgy. Fatima V captain Lily Ann Samera, on the other hand, said the clinic gives kids a glimpse of how their idols gained success in the game. “Para ito sa mga kabataan na matuto sila ng disiplina sa paglalaro, hindi basta laro lang. Dapat may attitude para ma-aim nila yung hinahangaan nilang mga basketball players at kung paano sila dumating sa ganun. Malalaman nila na ganito pala yung attitude nila,” she said.

Sports can truly be an equalizer, along with education, for children who are less fortunate to be born into a privileged life. For youth, in general, sports teaches the values of excellence, hard work, teamwork, resilience and nationalism. It teaches them how to fight and overcome obstacles no matter what, and with a pusong palaban.

Through the clinic, the sports arm of ABS-CBN hopes to give every Filipino kid a chance at a life strengthened by sports, one barangay at a time. After all, no matter what sport we play or team we are cheering for, we are one family, isang pamilya tayo.

ABS-CBN Sports, through its S+A and S+A HD channels, brings to free TV and cable TV popular international sporting events such as the NBA, US Open, FIFA and UEFA Champions League, and is the home of premier collegiate basketball in the country as the broadcast partner of the NCAA and UAAP. It airs big fight events like the Pinoy Pride boxing series, Top Rank Boxing, URCC, Bellator and ONE Championship promotions and produces original sports content such as the sports newscast The Score and Upfront at the UAAP. ABS-CBN Sports also has wide presence online through its sports hubsports.abs-cbn.com, and official social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter (@ABSCBNSports).