The National Basketball Association (NBA) recently announced that the Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball program promoting healthy and active lifestyles, will return to the Philippines with Jr. NBA Philippines Clinics Online, a series of free virtual basketball clinics for 13 to 17-year-old boys and girls across the country.
Jr. NBA Philippines Clinics Online will run on May 29 and June 12, with registration now live at www.jrnbaasia.com.
Utah Jazz’s Jordan Clarkson and 2021 NBA Draft prospect Jalen Green will join Jr. NBA coaches in leading Filipino youth through basketball drills.
Clarkson and Green will also participate in a life session and discuss the importance of fundamental skills training in their professional careers during the May 29 online event.
On June 12, WNBA Legend Ticha Penicheiro will headline a Jr. NBA session designed for girls.
“We’re excited to bring together players from across the NBA, WNBA and NBA G League to inspire our young athletes participating in the first ever Jr. NBA Philippines Clinics Online,” said Scott Levy, NBA Philippines Managing Director.
“Shifting the Jr. NBA program to a virtual event will allow us to safely engage young boys and girls through basketball while continuing to promote the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle.”
Additionally, Jr. NBA Philippines will publish a series of videos beginning June 21 on the official Jr. NBA Philippines Facebook page, which will feature Clarkson, Penicheiro, former NBA coaches, local Jr. NBA coaches, and sports science resource speakers discussing a range of sports-related topics including nutrition, psychology, diversity, and inclusion among others.
New this year, Jr. NBA Philippines will launch a social media contest to help identify 10 boys and 10 girls who will participate in the Jr. NBA Asia Pacific Camp Online, a one-day virtual basketball event that features advanced basketball instruction, skills challenges and interactive sessions with select NBA and WNBA players.
Conducted July 31 via video conferencing platform, Jr. NBA Asia Pacific Camp Online will feature 120 participants from seven countries across the region including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Contest mechanics will be announced at a later date.
Clarkson was selected 46th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2014 NBA Draft and named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2015. The 6’4” guard is averaging 18 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 65 games for the top-seeded Utah Jazz this season.
Green represented the G League Ignite, a team dedicated to the development of elite youth prospects, and averaged 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game throughout the 2021 G League season.
As a member of the USA Basketball Men’s Junior National Team, Green earned gold medals at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 and 2018 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cups and the 2017 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship. He was named MVP of the 2018 FIBA Under-17 Basketball World Cup in Argentina.
Penicheiro, drafted 2nd overall by the Sacramento Monarchs in the 1998 WNBA Draft, is a WNBA Champion, four-time WNBA All-Star, three-time All-WNBA selection and Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Named as one of the WNBA’s Top 20 Players of All Time in 2016, Penicheiro spent 15 seasons in the WNBA with the Sacramento Monarchs, Los Angeles Sparks, and Chicago Sky.
Since 2007, Jr. NBA Philippines has reached more than two million youth, parents, and coaches across the country, teaching the fundamental skills and core values of the game: sportsmanship, teamwork, a positive attitude, and respect (S.T.A.R.).
Jr. NBA Philippines is supported by official partners Gatorade and vivo.
Participants can now register for the Jr. NBA Philippines Clinics Online at www.jrnbaasia.com, and follow Jr. NBA Philippines on Facebook and the NBA at www.nba.com and on Facebook and Twitter.
NBA games and programming are available through official media partners Cignal, Globe, PLDT, and Smart, while authentic NBA merchandise can be purchased through NBAStore.com.ph, the official online NBA Store in the Philippines.
Utah Jazz’s Jordan Clarkson and 2021 NBA Draft prospect Jalen Green will join Jr. NBA coaches in leading Filipino youth through basketball drills.
