CHRISTINE Nichole Venterez from Baguio City High School will join eight boys and seven other girls as part of the Jr. NBA Philippines All-Stars
Venterez together with the final 15 were culled from 74 participants during the Jr. NBA Philippines 2018.
The Jr. NBA Philippines 2018 was presented by Alaska National Training Camp and was held at the Gatorade Hoops Center on May 18, at Don Bosco Technical Institute on May 19, and SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on May 20.
The training camp was headlined by Sacramento Kings center Willie Cauley-Stein and WNBA Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes.
The National Training Camp players were the top performers in Regional Selection Camps in Bacolod, Baguio, Butuan, Metro Manila, and Alaska Power Camp, which were led by Jr. NBA Coaches Carlos Barroca and Rob Newson, together with Alaska coaches led by PBA Legend Jeffrey Cariaso.
Jr. NBA alumni were in attendance throughout the camp with Thirdy Ravena and Ricci Rivero visiting the Gatorade Hoops Center and Kai Sotto and Rhayyan Amsali highlighting the participants of the Jr. NBA Alumni All-Star Game in SM Mall of Asia.
The Jr. NBA All-Stars showcased skills on the court and exemplified the Jr. NBA core S.T.A.R. Values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude, and Respect.
Pauline Angelique Valle and Prince Ray Alao were named this year's Jr. NBA Most Valuable Players, while Marielle Vingno and Ethan Rod Alian were selected as Alaska Ambassadors.
Hazel Yambot of Baguio and Mark "Tata" Belangel of Bacolod were chosen as the Coaches of the Year.
Special awards were handed out to Kayla Marie Mataga and Javier Louis Jugo as Gatorade Hustle awardees, Merylle Cuasay and Czarlo Salvador as Panasonic Rising Stars, and Aishe Solis and Kim Aaron Tamayo, Cloudfone Awesome Players of the Game.
"The Jr. NBA program gives us the opportunity to contribute to our goal of getting more kids to play the game of basketball and help them understand how working hard on their craft can open doors and unlock greater opportunities in life," said Hall of Famer Sheryl Swoopes.
"I came here to inspire you but your passion and eagerness to learn inspire me and I'm so grateful for that," shared Sacramento Kings center Willie Cauley-Stein to the campers.
An NBA experience trip in Shanghai, China, awaits the All-Stars in October where they will be joined by other Jr. NBA All-Stars from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam in training and friendly competitions, as they catch the NBA China Games 2018 featuring the Philadelphia 76ers and the Dallas Mavericks. (Roderick Osis)