NATIONAL Basketball Association (NBA) basketball operations associate Cherokee Parks gamely showed his dunking skills after some 90 participants of the US Embassy and Alaska Aces-organized basketball clinic at the Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School Campus in Bangkal on Saturday urged him on with chants of “Dunk, dunk, dunk.”
The participants, whose ages range from 10 to 18 years old, appreciated his two dunks with loud cheers and applause. Parks' mini exhibition, thus, ended the three-day series of basketball clinics for coaches and children that were also supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and Ateneo de Davao University.
However, the attendees lingered on at the Ateneo gym to take photo opportunities with Parks and LA Sparks' Alana Beard, a WNBA two-time defensive player of the year, after the six-station drills were conducted.
The American sports envoys were also crowded with attendees who eagerly sought their autographs on their jerseys, rubber shoes, basketballs and give-away tumblers to serve as souvenirs from such a memorable day.
Before the clinic started, Parks and Beard answered questions from the young players, sharing colorful journey as athletes.
Parks lauded the children who joined the clinics, saying, “Coaches must be proud of these kids. They listened, smiled and did what they were told to do. They just enjoy basketball.”
Beard said, “It's been a true joy to be here in the Philippines, especially Davao, to be around kids and to be able to teach them. They are extremely disciplined, they have a lot of potentials.”
Saturday's participants were from Ateneo, Philippine Women's College of Davao and Abba's Child Science School Foundation, Incorporated.
US Embassy Cultural Affairs Officer Matt Keener said from Davao, they will bring the program to Manila.