The Jr. NBA is the leading U.S. youth basketball program that serves existing recreational youth basketball leagues through support programs for players, coaches, parents and officials. To date, over 6 million players, coaches, parents and officials have received benefits through the program membership.

The Jr. NBA has now been launched internationally in select countries in Canada and Europe. In Asia, Jr. NBA programs have been launched in China and Japan.

In 2007, Jr. NBA will be introduced in the Philippines through a pilot program to be conducted in selected private and public schools in the Greater Manila Area. Its primary goal is to provide a fun and rewarding youth basketball experience. Jr. NBA Philippines complements the local school’s sports and recreational program and imbues it with the prestige and unique experiences of the NBA. The program serves as a Talent Search for gifted children who can excel not only on the basketball court, but in their schools and communities as well.

Jr. NBA is a program under the NBA Cares banner, the NBA’s social responsibility initiative that supports education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.

PROGRAM GOALS

1. Emphasize fundamental skill development, teamwork, sportsmanship, respect, and positive adult participation.
2. Provide a fun and rewarding basketball experience where young players can create a bond with the game while learning what it takes to be successful away from the court.
3. Select a group of talented boys who exhibit the best on-and off-court traits, to form the Jr. NBA Philippine All-Star Team. The team will be honored guests at an NBA regular season game in the USA, and will also participate in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be coached by an NBA Legend and/or Player.
4. Long-term, make the Jr. NBA the premier youth basketball program in the Philippines.

TARGET AGE GROUP

Boys from 9-14 years old

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS AND DATES

The program will run from April to June 2007. The Jr. NBA All-Star Team to be selected will watch the NBA game live in October or November 2007.

NAME OF SCHOOL DATE

NAME OF SCHOOL	DATE
1. PAREF Southridge School	Monday, April 2
2. Don Bosco Technical College (Mandaluyong)	Tuesday, April 3
3. Don Bosco Technical College ( Makati)	Monday, April 9
4. University of Perpetual Help system Dalta	Tuesday, April 10
5. De La Salle Zobel	Thursday, April 12
6. University of the Philippines Integrated School	Saturday, April 14
7. Aquinas School	Monday, April 16
8. University of Sto. Tomas	Tuesday, April 17 (PRESS LAUNCH)
9. Colegio de San Juan de Letran	Thursday, April 19
10. San Sebastian College Recoletos	Saturday, April 21
11. Rizal High School	Monday, April 23
12. Parañaque National High School	Tuesday, April 24
13. Ateneo de Manila University	Saturday, April 28
14. Sa Beda College	Monday, April 30
15. La Salle Greenhills	Tuesday, May 1 (still tentative)
16. Philippine Women’s University – Jose Abad Santos Memorial School	Thursday, May 3
17. Malayan Science High School	Monday, May 7

Two additional schools plus an “Open” session for kids that could not attend their school sessions will be scheduled after May 7.
The Jr. NBA Tournament will run from Mid-May to June (specific dates TBD).
The two-day Jr. NBA Training Camp will take place in Mid-June (specific dates TBD)

EVENT OVERVIEW

Jr. NBA will be comprised of 5 phases:
1. School Program (begins April 2007): Jr. NBA sessions will be conducted in each participating school. Each session, lasting approximately 2 hours, will be comprised of basketball clinics, drills, scrimmages, and talks. At the end of the sessions, Jr. NBA instructional materials and membership cards will be distributed to each participant.
2. Jr. NBA Tournament (May): Each school will then form a team that will participate in the Jr. NBA Tournament. Team members must have gone through the Jr. NBA School Program. The Tournament games will be held at gymnasiums of participating schools and/or malls around the Metro. The top teams from each region shall advance to the Jr. NBA Tournament Playoffs and Finals. Winning teams will receive a trophy, medals, and Jr. NBA gift packs.
3. Jr. NBA Training Camp (June) – Each school will nominate 2 to 3 students from their respective teams to participate further in the Jr. NBA Training Camp, a 2-day advanced session to be hosted by a Jr. NBA-certified coach or an NBA Legend. Besides good basketball skills, the nominated students must be in good academic standing and must be active in their community.
4. The Jr. NBA Philippine Team Selection: Based on their Training Camp performance, as well as the S.T.A.R. criteria, Sportsmanship, Teamwork, Attitude, and Respect, a minimum of 5 boys shall be selected to be the 2007 Jr. NBA Philippine Team.
5. Jr. NBA Philippine Team NBA Experience (TBD): The Jr. NBA Philippine team will be rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to watch a live NBA game and to attend a basketball clinic hosted by an NBA Legend. Prior to departure, the Jr. NBA All-Star team will participate in media and partner activities, including TV guest appearances, print interviews and store visits.