ELIZABETH: JR.NBA/JR. WNBA PHILIPPINES 2016 PRESENTED BY ALASKA

Children, boys and girls can now start living a healthy and progressive active lifestyle with Alaska. Alaska doesn't only believe and recognize the need of Filipino children for proper nutrition, they are also committed to promote active lifestyle in order to bring forth healthier children. What's better way to live an active lifestyle than by doing your favorite sports? More so, excelling in the field?

To make Alaska’s advocacies and mission to materialize, they partner with excellent local and International organizations, in Jr.NBA/Jr. WNBA basketball program, are National Basketball Association (NBA) as organizer and Spalding, as their supporting partner also in partnership with Globe Telecom, Cloudfone and Gatorade as their official Hydrating Station.

Alaska Booth

Cloudfone Kiosk

Regional Selection Camps were held on several venues to cater Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and Metro Manila. First Regional Selection Camp of the Jr. NBA /Jr. WNBA Philippines 2016 presented by Alaska was held February 20-21 at Benguet State University.  After two days of progressive drills and scrimmages, six boys and two girls selected. These eight young ballers stood out from among the 667 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA participants from the Cordillera Administrative Region and young players from Batangas and Laguna in South Luzon who travelled to Benguet for the opportunity to be selected for advancement to the next stages of the NBA’s global youth basketball participation program. 

In Davao's Regional Selection Camp, which is held at Ateneo de Davao University, Matina Campus last February 27-28, seven boys and four girls were selected from 543 kids who participated. Cebu Regional Selection Camp was held at at the Don Bosco Technology Center in Cebu welcomed 333 young players across Visayas including Bacolod, Bohol, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Leyte and Samar.

Last week, April 9 and 10, was the fourth and final leg of Jr.NBA/Jr. WNBA presented by Alaska Regional Selection Camp (RSC) for Manila . It was held in Don Bosco Technical Institute, Makati City. They are screening the young athletes through various basketball drills and scrimmages such as dribbling, jumping, etc. hence get the chance to be part of, and be selected to participate the National Training Camp (NTC) that will happen next week on April 22 to 24 at Don Bosco Institute Makati on Friday and SM Mall of Asia on Saturday and Sunday.

On Day 1, Saturday 1030 boys and 84 girls making a sum total of 1114 children went and participated in the program. This is the biggest and largest number of RSC participants in the nine-year history of Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines presented by Alaska. At the end of day one, 40 boys and 24 girls were chosen to return for Day 2, Sunday, April 10.

Alaska. Nutrition. Action. Champion.

This is where they will be tested through scrimmages were boys and girls are grouped into teams and were made to play sets of basketball games where they can apply all that they have learned from Day 1 and from the basketball clinic in the morning. Wherein, the best and the strongest will be included in the RSC Manila representatives to the National Training Camp! Congratulations to the 8 girls and 16 boys.

Girls: (8)

Dianne Camille Nolasco

Lalaine Gonzales

Carly Monreal

Lindsey Nacional

Magda Lioui Flores

Ma Cecilia Quilenderino

Princess Marie Villarin

Jonalyn Bongalos

Boys: (16)

Mark Glenn Gabon

Luis Gabriel Aguila

Anjelo Raphael Argente

Jhondhel Austria

Jearico Nunez

Kai Zachary Sotto

Andrei Philip Lechoncito

Mark Nicole Lucban

Reich Randell Villegas

Prince Junnell De Belen

Pauloh Villarin

Patrick Lance Inting

Jericho Ross Paglinawan

Miguel Rey Luis Tan

Devon Dein Diez

Russel Ducanes

The finalists excelled in the skills and scrimmages and exemplified Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA core S.T.A.R. values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude and Respect throughout the camp. Stay tuned for the third stage of events, the National Training Camp to determine 2016 Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA All-Stars. Everyone is excited and is doing their best to be part of the NBA all-stars and hence get the chance to experience the once-in-a-lifetime NBA Experience Trip!

Fans can also follow Jr. NBA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jrnbaphilippines. For all things NBA, fans can visit www.nba.com , like the NBA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/philsnba and follow www.twitter.com/nba_philippines on Twitter. To learn more about the Alaska Milk Corporation, visit www.alaskamilk.com and www.playph.com .

To learn more about Alaska Milk and its roster of sporting programs, log on to www.playph.com, Basketball clinic locations can also be found on www.facebook.com/jrnbaphilippines

Alaska Milk Sports Action in Davao 2016

What I like most about this sports fest by Alaska Milk is that they encourage kids to be their best. At sa dami ng child-related crimes sa ating bansa, we need more of these kind of invigoration and support sa tinagurian ni Gat Jose Rizal na "Pag-asa ng Ating Bayan".

Aside from Alaska Milk's vision for Filipino children to have proper nutrition, sports fest like these give Filipino children hope in life - na kahit maralita, basta may talent and determination, pwede ka dito. In here, you have a chance. Sa dami ng apps na pwedeng laruin ngayon indoors, sa dami ng channels ng cable TV at dahil unlimited na rin ang internet sa bahay, as a mom, I appreciate Alaska Milk's initiative to uplift children to "go out and play".

It's nice to know that these sports fest are of free-of-charge, and it's also nice to know that there are volunteer coaches like Coach Kid of Cotabato City.

As part of Alaska Milk Jr.NBA and jr. WNBA 2016, last 27th and 28th of February, Regional Selection Camp for Mindanao leg was held at the Matina Campus of Ateneo de Davao University. This is the fourth of stage where young athletes, kids with potentials, children with dreams were gathered to showcase their skills and talents. Yes, Alaska Milk is taking it to the next level: The Search for the Next MVP in Basketball Nationwide! Para sa Filipino kids around the country, this is a good opportunity- a friendly competition to challenge and test to their skills while making friends and camaraderie, sportsmanship at the same time.

Kids are uplifted, but not just them...

Of course even moms are happy to see their kids having fun while learning and honing their skills. Win or lose, this competition is a good experience for them. It's a good start for budding young athletes, to make them love what they do and be good on what they are doing. It inspires children to pursue their dreams and continue in making their potential a skill that could give them ticket to a better life.

From Davao's Regional Selection Camp were seven boys and four girls, finally selected from the sea of 543 kids who participated in this year for Mindanao. 

Alfonso Luis Candari, 13, of Ateneo de Davao; Lance Centeno, 13, of Ateneo de Davao; Joven Neil Deligero, 13, of Daniel R. Aguinaldo National Highschool; Louis Andre Joring, 13, of St. Mary’s School; Tryon Limar Langala, 14, of St. Mary’s School; Anscar Mamac, 14, of Holy Child College of Davao; and Rysan Villasenta, 13, of Holy Child College of Davao topped the boys division. Rozie Amatong, 11, of Modern International Learning Center; Aloha Marie Betanio, 12, of Malaybalay City Central School; Kate Buenaventura, 13, of Ateneo de Davao; and Marcila Grace Dellosa, 14, of F. Bangoy National Highschool topped the girls division. 

The selected young athletes will represent Mindanao in the Jr. NBA/WNBA Philippines National Training Camp this April, and will try out with other top players from the four Regional Selection Camps for the chance to be named as Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines All-Star! What a mouthful! This and a chance to participate in an overseas NBA experience! Bongga!

Aside from the proper nutrition for strong bones and growing body, hence giving children their complete potential growth, Alaska through this kinds of program also aims to give children an active lifestyle while sharing the values of true Sportsmanship, Teamwork, Positive Attitude and Respect throughout the tournament.

Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines Regional Selection Camp will stop over Cebu this coming March 5-6, followed by Manila on April 9-10. So if you have kids, boys or girls aged 10-14, don't miss out! Register for free to the youth basketball program at www.jrnba.asia/philippines!

Follow Jr. NBA on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/jrnbaphilippines

For NBA fanatics, visit website here: www.nba.com, Facebook here: www.facebook.com/philsnba and Twitter here: www.twitter.com/nba_philippines.

To learn more about the Alaska Milk Corporation, visit www.alaskamilk.com and www.playph.com.