Last Updated on November 12, 2023

Nine boys and 20 girls topped the final Regional Selection Camp of Jr. NBA Philippines 2019 presented by Alaska held April 27-28 at the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati, which will also serve as the venue for the National Training Camp on May 17-19.

The young athletes, selected by Jr. NBA Coaches Rob Newson and Alaska’s Jeffrey Cariaso, Tony dela Cruz and Willie Miller, stood out from the 591 participants, exhibiting fundamental skills and core values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude and Respect (S.T.A.R.) throughout the two-day event. They will join top players from the Regional Selection Camps in North Luzon (Benguet), South Luzon (Lucena), Visayas (Dumaguete) and Mindanao (Butuan) and a select group from the Alaska Power Camp and vie to be named as 2019 Jr. NBA Philippines All-Stars comprised of five boys and five girls.

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Participants of the Jr. NBA Philippines 2019 presented by Alaska Manila Regional Selection Camp

New this year, the Jr. NBA Philippines All-Stars will be sent to the first Jr. NBA Global Championship Asia Pacific Selection Camp, a week-long camp in June that includes top youth players from the Asia-Pacific region excluding China.

In addition, the Asia-Pacific regional competition will form a team of 10 boys and 10 girls that will represent the region at the Jr. NBA Global Championship on Aug. 6-11 at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida that will feature youth players from the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, China, Mexico, Africa, India and the Asia-Pacific.

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The 20 girl finalists at the Jr. NBA Manila Regional Selection Camp who will advance to the National Training Camp in May with their coaches and Alaska Aces players. They are (1st row, L-R): Ellen Parane, Justine Mhyrra Vibanco, Kyla Marie Mataga, Ysabela Gonzales, Diane Camille Nolasco, Ciara Centeno, Leanne Jazmine Catalan, Frances Maxine Pamintuan, Erika Nadine Tenorio; (2nd row, L-R): Kharel Siapoc, Crisciona Anne Bagasani, Sophia Amol, Rochelle Omalin, Aaliyah Reyes, Franchesca Isabela Buenvenida, Princess BJ Villarin, Franchesca Galauran, Merylle Cuasa, Dancylle Busime, and Jam Lachica. Also in photo are Jr. NBA and Alaska Coaches Willie Miller, Jeffery Cariaso, Tony dela Cruz, Rob Newson, Eric dela Cuesta, Kalvin Sangalang and Alaska Aces Jeron Teng, Davon Potts, Carl Bryan Cruz, Gboy Babilonia, Sonny Thoss and JVee Casio.

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 broadcasters of Jr. NBA Philippines.

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Nine boys from the Jr. NBA Manila Regional Selection Camp who will compete in the National Training Camp in May pose with Jr. NBA and Alaska coaches plus Alaska Aces players at the end of the camp. (L-R): James Yuan Ison, Lanze Ronquillo, Joshua Minguillo, Daniel Padilla, Sebastian Roy Reyes, Syrex Silorio, Elijah Ray Yusi, Hikaru Policarpio, and Mark Kerby Samson. At back are Jr. NBA and Alaska Coaches Tony dela Cruz, Jeffery Cariaso, Willie Miller, Rob Newson, Eric dela Cuesta and Kalvin Sangalang. The Alaska Aces are Gboy Babilonia, Carl Byran Cruz, Jeron Teng, Davon Potts, Sonny Thoss, and JVee Casio.

Participants can now register for the Jr. NBA program online at www.jrnba.asia, and follow Jr. NBA on Facebook and the NBA at www.nba.com and on Facebook and Twitter. Fans can visit www.alaskamilk.com to learn more about Alaska Milk Corporation, and follow Alaska Milk on Facebook for more information about Alaska Sports.

The following is a complete list of participants selected from the Jr. NBA Philippines Regional Selection Camp in Metro Manila advancing to the Jr. NBA Philippines National Training Camp:

BOYS ROSTER:

First NameLast NameAgeSchool
James YuanIson14La Salle Greenhills
JoshuaMinguillo13Panorama Montessori School Binan Laguna
DanielPadilla14Nazareth School of National University
HikaruPolicarpio13Bacood Elementary School
Sebastian RoyReyes13Nazareth School of National University
LanzeRonquillo14San Beda University
Marc KerbySamson14Panorama Montessori School Binan Laguna
Syrex JuneSilorio13Nazareth School of National University
Elijah RayYusi14Nazareth School of National University

GIRLS ROSTER:

First NameLast NameAgeSchool
SophiaAmol13De La Salle Zobel
Crisciona AnnBagasani13San Sebastian College
Franchesca IsabelaBuenvenida13Mother of Divine Providence School
Dancylle GabrealeneBusime13Gulod National High School
Leanne JazmineCatalan12Arandia College
CiaraCenteno12Eulogio Rodriguez Integrated School
MerylleCuasay13Oriental Mindoro National High School
Mikaela FrancescaGalauran12St. Paul College Pasig
Ysabela  LouiseGonzales13St. Paul College Pasig
Jay Anne MarieLachica13Sta. Clara Parish School
Kyla MarieMataga14De La Salle Zobel
Dianne CamilleNolasco14Miriam College
RochelleOmalin14De La Salle Zobel
Frances MaxinePamintuan14UST-Angelicum College
EllenParane13Tandang Sora Integrated School
Aaliyah MaiReyes13St. Paul College Pasig
Kharel JoySiapoc13La Salle College Antipolo
Erika NadineTenorio13School of the Holy Spirit of Quezon City
Justine MhyrraVibanco13Saint Joseph Parish School
PrincessVillarin13De La Salle Zobel
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Hounded by two defenders, this Jr. NBA player surveys the court for a pass to her teammates.
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This budding young baller showcases her ball handling skills in the dribbling station.
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FLY HIGH. This Jr. NBA cager soars above his defender for a basket.
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Alaska Ace Carl Bryan Cruz encourages these young players to keep working hard to reach their basketball dreams.

About the NBA

The NBA is a global sports and media business built around four professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, the NBA G League, and the NBA 2K League. The NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 100,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2018-19 season featured 108 international players from 42 countries and territories. NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App, and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 1.5 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms. Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.

About Alaska Milk

Given the growing issues on health as well as the fast-changing technological environment, which leads to the change in children’s interests and behavior or sedentary lifestyle, Alaska believes that there is a need to reinforce its thrust in leading a healthy lifestyle not just by drinking milk but also by leading an active lifestyle. Alaska seeks to engage the youth, especially younger kids, in sports.

Alaska Milk looks beyond selling milk – it sells nutrition and by doing so, the Company and brand Alaska is doing its part in nation-building. Through youth sports development programs, Alaska is able to help nourish children for them to develop into champions in the field of interest and, in general, in life. The overall objective of Alaska Sports is to strengthen the brand’s equity in nutrition through sports. To portray Alaska Fortified as a brand that helps instill the values of determination, discipline, teamwork, and hard work among the youth through sports.