The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced
today that Collin Sexton of the Cleveland Cavaliers and WNBA legend Ticha
Penicheiro will visit Manila to help coach the top youth players aged 13-14 at
the 2019 Jr. NBA Philippines presented by Alaska. National Training Camp
participants will experience world class basketball instruction at the Don
Bosco Technical Institute on May 18, with the most outstanding athletes competing
in the boys and girls exhibition game at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on May
19.
Sexton and
Penicheiro will help select the top five boys and five girls from the 80
finalists who will be named 2019 Jr. NBA Philippines All-Stars and serve as
assistant coaches for the annual Jr. NBA Alumni All-Star Game.
Jr. NBA Philippines
presented by Alaska is committed to improving youth health and wellness and
addressing growing inactivity by highlighting the importance of proper
nutrition and an active lifestyle to participants. Since its launch in
2007, Jr. NBA Philippines has reached an estimated two million players, coaches
and parents in over 190 cities and municipalities nationwide, teaching the
fundamentals of basketball and the program’s core values of sportsmanship,
teamwork, a positive attitude, and respect (S.T.A.R.).
“I’m excited to work
with aspiring young athletes and help contribute to their basketball
development,” said Sexton. “The Jr. NBA is a perfect program for them to
learn essential skills and values that will help elevate their game.”
“Jr. NBA continues
to be an inclusive platform for boys and girls, encouraging sports
participation and instilling an active and healthy lifestyle among the Filipino
youth,” said Penicheiro. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to nurture their
holistic growth and put them in a position to succeed in basketball and in
life.”
Sexton was selected
8th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft and averaged 16.6 points, 3
rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game with the Cavaliers this season.
Penicheiro, drafted
2nd overall by the Sacramento Monarchs in the 1998 WNBA Draft,
is a WNBA Champion and a four-time WNBA All-Star. Named as part of the
WNBA’s Top 15 Players of All Time, Penicheiro spent 15 seasons in the WNBA with
the Sacramento Monarchs, Los Angeles Sparks and Chicago Sky and will be
enshrined as part of the 2019 class of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame this
June.
The National
Training Camp finalists were selected from Regional Selection Camps in Benguet,
Butuan, Dumaguete, Lucena and Metro Manila, and from the Alaska Power
Camp. In addition, the 2019 Coaches of the Year will be identified during
the National Training Camp.
The Jr. NBA, the
league’s global youth basketball program for boys and girls, teaches the
fundamental skills as well as the core values of the game at the grassroots
level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for
players, coaches and parents. During the 2018-19 season, the NBA and its
teams plan to reach more than 51 million youth in 75 countries through league
play, in-school programming, clinics, skills challenges, and other outreach
events.
Jr. NBA Philippines
2019 is presented by Alaska, with AXA, Gatorade, Globe, Panasonic, Rexona, and
Vivo as Official Partners. ABS-CBN S + A, Basketball TV and NBA Premium
TV are the Official NBA Broadcasters of Jr. NBA Philippines.
Fans can learn more
about Jr. NBA Philippines at www.jrnba.asia/philippines and on Facebook and
the NBA at www.nba.comand
on Facebook and Twitter. Visit www.alaskamilk.com to
learn more about Alaska Milk Corporation, and follow Alaska Milk on Facebook for more information about Alaska
Sports.
