Jr. NBA, Jr. WNBA All Stars fly to China to watch Global Games

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The 2015 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines All-Stars will travel to China from Oct. 9-12 to watch the first-ever NBA Global Games in Shenzhen between the Charlotte Hornets and the Los Angeles Clippers at the Shenzhen Universiade Center. 

The opportunity to watch a live NBA game is part of the commitment of Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA presented by Alaska to provide its top participants with a fun, enriching NBA experience.

The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2015 presented by Alaska is the league’s international youth development program that promotes basketball participation, sportsmanship, teamwork, and an active lifestyle among children.  Now in its eight consecutive year, the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA program has reached more than 100,000 youth, parents, and coaches in the country since 2007.

Selected from a pool of 2,500 aspiring basketball champions, the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines All-Stars consist of 10 boys and 5 girls from Metro Manila, Southern Tagalog, Dagupan, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, and Davao.  The boys are represented by Robert Alomar Castro and Lloyd Raphael Oliva of La Salle Greenhills, Luis Sebastian Locsin and Edrian Custodio of De La Salle Zobel, Joshua Garing of De La Salle Lipa, Miguel Luigi Santos of Ateneo de Manila, Ernest John Felicilda and Jeffy Mailim of Corpus Christi College in Cagayan de Oro, Christian Allen Magno of St. Albert the Great of Dagupan, and Daniel Anthony Coo of St. John’s Institute of Bacolod.

From the girls’ side, they are comprised of the following individuals: Nelia Jean David and Micaela Denise Pentecostes of the Diliman Preparatory School of Quezon City; Kyla Flores of Parañaque Science High School, Luisa Krizelle San Juan of Amazing Grace School in Laguna, and Heart Pagara Donor of Assumption College of Davao.  The Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA Coach of the Year, namely Gabriel Victor Tan of Lucena City and Sunshine Echavez of Puerto Princesa, will also join the NBA experience trip.

As part of the intercultural exchange, the Philippine All-Stars will be joined by the 56 top Jr. NBA performers, aged 10 to 14 years old, from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.  The group’s itinerary will include playing friendly exhibition games, meeting NBA players or legends, and exploring local landmarks in China.

“Through our partnership with the NBA, the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA presented by Alaska have encouraged children to participate in sports to nurture their talent and live a healthy and active lifestyle,” said Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, President and CEO of Alaska Milk Corporation. 

“We are thrilled for the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA Philippines All-Stars headed to Shenzhen, for being exemplary role models of our aspirations to keep children in their winning form.  In 2016, we expect to reach more young aspiring basketball players by bringing the Jr. NBA program to more cities nationwide, and making this more inclusive with fun, engaging activities for everyone," he added.

Over the past years, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA presented by Alaska has helped foster a healthy lifestyle among children and families through the combination of proper nutrition and active lifestyle.  It continues to be an effective platform in activating Alaska Milk’s NUTRITION.ACTION.CHAMPION. program designed to fight against the increasing number of overweight and undernourished children in the Philippines.