TWO-TIME WNBA defensive player of the year Alana Beard and NBA basketball operations associate Cherokee Parks are upbeat about their series of clinics in Davao City.
Both were guests of the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum along with Matt Keener of the U.S. Embassy Cultural Affairs at The Annex of SM City Davao on Thursday, September 27.
The five-foot-11 Beard of the Los Angeles (LA) Sparks, a four-time WNBA All-Star player, said, "It's my first time in the Philippines. I'm super excited to work with the kids in Davao. I would like to inspire the kids, I can't wait to get started."
She also said that while they want to promote the sport that Americans and Filipinos love and teach kids fundamentals of basketball, Beard added that they will also teach life skills to the children.
Parks, for his part, said, "This is a great opportunity for us to come here and share sports to the kids. I am excited to be here. We are getting started today."
He was pertaining to the ongoing clinic as of yesterday afternoon with children from marginalized sectors in the city.
"Aside from fundamentals, I would also share about teamwork, depending on each other, communication, working hard, competing, winning and having fun while you do it," said Parks who played 12 seasons in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Vancouver Grizzlies, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors.
Keener, meanwhile, said the next stop will be in Manila.
"We want to show our strong cultural ties with the Philippines and work with various kids from marginalized sectors," he said, adding that they have been doing several programs in the country but they only identified Davao and Manila as the cities for this particular program.
Keener also cited U.S. Embassy's partnerships with the Alaska Aces, Ateneo de Davao University and Philippine Sports Commission.
A clinic for coaches and PE teachers is set at 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center.
Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School in Bangkal campus is the venues of all basketball clinics for children including yesterday's session, today's 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and tomorrow's 9 a.m. to 11 a.m..
The American sports envoys and Keener with other U.S. Embassy staff paid a courtesy visit to Vice Mayor Bernard Al-Ag.