NBA Legend AC Green checks on the kids on how well they know the art of playing defense.(Photo by Roy Afable)
Coach Frank Lopez returned for the final leg of the Jr. NBA program here in the Philippines. His knee injury didn't hinder him from teaching the top 50 and bring out the best in them. For the first 2 days of the camp it was held at the La Salle Greenhills gym. The youngins worked hard on improving everything they've learned since the Jr. NBA camps began a few months ago.
AC Green signs an autograph for his biggest fan.(Photo by Roy Afable)
Since most of them have been playing varsity ball for their respective schools, that doesn't mean the boot camp is a walk in the park. If they wanna earn a spot at the Jr. NBA All Stars roster, they gotta work hard for it. Simple as that.
Working on their dribbling skills.(Photo by Roy Afable)
During the last day of the camp at SM Mall of Asia, I spoke to one of the 50 players during their brief lunch break. he was almost 6 feet tall and was around 13-14 years of age. I asked him about the possibility of him making it to the top 10. He said that making it to the top 10 would be great but if he didn't make the cut, being part of the National Training Camp was already a huge feat for him.
I admire the kid's humble remarks. Being the one of the 50 best players in the Philippines is most definitely a big achievement. Pretty sure most of the participants have the same goal in mind. Of course that is up to the coaches to make the selections. Speaking of the coaches, one of them gets a chance to be win the first ever Jr. NBA Coach of the Year plum and join the coaching staff of the Jr. NBA Philippine team.
Shooting some J's.(Photo by Roy Afable)
Everybody wants a piece of that rock.(Photo by Roy Afable)
As soon as the buzzer sounded, the coaches huddled up lead by NBA Asia Head of Basketball Operations Jama Mahlalela, PBA Legends Jojo Lastimosa, Elmer Cabahug and Roehl Gomez for their final verdict on the selections. I could tell how nervous the kids were as they await the announcement. Coach Jama then came out of the coaches huddle and announced the special awards, Coach of the Year and Jr. NBA All Star selections.
Here's list of the special awardees and top 10 players:
Dawn Hynric Ochea - Alaska Most Valuable Player of the Camp
Nino Dave Paon - Asia Miles Sportsmanship Award
Alfred Sajulga - Gatorade Hustle Award
John Lorenz Toral - BTV Rising Star Award
Lorenzo Fernando Navarro - Hi Smart All Star Player Award
Jarrell Lim - Alaska Youth Ambassador
Jr. NBA All Stars Philippines Selection:
Jarrell Lim
Lorenzo Fernando Navarro
Kobe Lorenzo Paras
Ferdinand Ravena III
Alfred Sajulga
Justin Oliver Serrano
Tsaddy John Tabaldo
Dawn Hynric Ochea
Rendell Thomas Senining
Miguel Kristoffer Competente
Coach Luis Nolasco - Jr. NBA 2011 Coach of the Year award
After the Jr. NBA All Stars were named, the pretty much wrapped up the event. The parents of the kids that made the top 10 were extremely proud of them. I mean who wouldn't be. The Jr. NBA All Stars Philippine team get a chance to travel abroad and compete against their counter parts all over Asia.
The Jr. NBA Philippine All Stars.
(Photo by Roy Afable)
Got a chance to talk to Lorenzo Fernando Navarro aka Mr. Handles, who's now part of the Jr. NBA All Stars. I asked him about his thoughts of being selected for the All Star team. He actually revealed to me that it was indeed his 2nd time to join the Jr. NBA. "Sobrang saya ko lang. Second try ko na ito. Gustong-gusto ko talaga makuha ako nung last year pa kaya ginawa ko na yung best ko."
He stressed that the competition during the boot camp was very challenging and he knows every one of them wants a spot on the All Star team. "Siyempre kinakabahan din kasi yung mga ibang kasama ko magagaling din."
I asked him about how his skills can help the Jr. NBA Philippine team once they start competiting abroad, "Kung ano na lang ipagawa nila sa akin, gawin ko na lng," he said with a smile.
I managed to get an opportunity to interview PBA Legend Jojo Lastimosa. I've been wanting to interview him since the beginning of this year's Jr. NBA Program here in the Philippines. Jolas has been my idol in the PBA when I was in grade school. So glad I finally got to ask him a few questions.
The PBA Legend confirmed that it's the first time for Alaska to partner with the Jr. NBA Program. "First year ng Alaska ito. I think this is a 3 year or 4 year partnership."
I then asked him if there were any similarities (or differences) with Alaska Powercamp and the Jr. NBA Program, "Actually, nung nalaman namin yung style, the organization and how they run their staff, I kind of adapted kung ano ginagawa already sa Powercamp. But again, the drills are pretty much the same -- it is the matter of how to get the kids started," Lastimosa said.
Jolas mentioned how all the coaches didn't have any problems with the kids in terms of motivating them during the camp, "I think pushing them is not a problem because pag bata kasi they have so much energy. They can go on the whole day, like they had a 3-day training camp -- we didn't see any problems na nahihirapan sila na kailangan i-motivate. I think they are all well motivated and they're all inspired."
The whole process of deciding on who's gonna make the cut for the All Star roster must be quite a lot of work for the coaches. I asked him his thoughts on the latter, "Mahirap yung sa Regionals but then again, nung nag-ipon na sila ng 50 (best players), more or less medyo madali na lang piliin yung top 10 kasi the really good ones -- they really do stand out," the PBA Legend explained.
With the success of Alaska's partnership with the Jr. NBA there's indeed a lot to look forward to for next year's Jr. NBA program here in the Philippines. I'ma take the word from it coming from Jolas himself, "Next year, we're hoping to get more cities and we had about 3,000/4,000 kids all over the country this year. And hopefully we can add more cities and more numbers."
That wraps up my coverage of the Jr. NBA Philippines 2011. See y'all next year.
After the Jr. NBA All Stars were named, the pretty much wrapped up the event. The parents of the kids that made the top 10 were extremely proud of them. I mean who wouldn't be. The Jr. NBA All Stars Philippine team get a chance to travel abroad and compete against their counter parts all over Asia.
The Jr. NBA Philippine All Stars.(Photo by Roy Afable)
Got a chance to talk to Lorenzo Fernando Navarro aka Mr. Handles, who's now part of the Jr. NBA All Stars. I asked him about his thoughts of being selected for the All Star team. He actually revealed to me that it was indeed his 2nd time to join the Jr. NBA. "Sobrang saya ko lang. Second try ko na ito. Gustong-gusto ko talaga makuha ako nung last year pa kaya ginawa ko na yung best ko."
He stressed that the competition during the boot camp was very challenging and he knows every one of them wants a spot on the All Star team. "Siyempre kinakabahan din kasi yung mga ibang kasama ko magagaling din."
I asked him about how his skills can help the Jr. NBA Philippine team once they start competiting abroad, "Kung ano na lang ipagawa nila sa akin, gawin ko na lng," he said with a smile.
I managed to get an opportunity to interview PBA Legend Jojo Lastimosa. I've been wanting to interview him since the beginning of this year's Jr. NBA Program here in the Philippines. Jolas has been my idol in the PBA when I was in grade school. So glad I finally got to ask him a few questions.
The PBA Legend confirmed that it's the first time for Alaska to partner with the Jr. NBA Program. "First year ng Alaska ito. I think this is a 3 year or 4 year partnership."
I then asked him if there were any similarities (or differences) with Alaska Powercamp and the Jr. NBA Program, "Actually, nung nalaman namin yung style, the organization and how they run their staff, I kind of adapted kung ano ginagawa already sa Powercamp. But again, the drills are pretty much the same -- it is the matter of how to get the kids started," Lastimosa said.
Jolas mentioned how all the coaches didn't have any problems with the kids in terms of motivating them during the camp, "I think pushing them is not a problem because pag bata kasi they have so much energy. They can go on the whole day, like they had a 3-day training camp -- we didn't see any problems na nahihirapan sila na kailangan i-motivate. I think they are all well motivated and they're all inspired."
The whole process of deciding on who's gonna make the cut for the All Star roster must be quite a lot of work for the coaches. I asked him his thoughts on the latter, "Mahirap yung sa Regionals but then again, nung nag-ipon na sila ng 50 (best players), more or less medyo madali na lang piliin yung top 10 kasi the really good ones -- they really do stand out," the PBA Legend explained.
With the success of Alaska's partnership with the Jr. NBA there's indeed a lot to look forward to for next year's Jr. NBA program here in the Philippines. I'ma take the word from it coming from Jolas himself, "Next year, we're hoping to get more cities and we had about 3,000/4,000 kids all over the country this year. And hopefully we can add more cities and more numbers."
That wraps up my coverage of the Jr. NBA Philippines 2011. See y'all next year.
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