Gatorade reinforced its staunch support for grassroots basketball as it teamed up with the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the 2017 run of the Jr. NBA Philippines National Training Camp.
The exclusive training camp aims to develop raw basketball talent and educate young athletes on the importance of proper conditioning and proper hydration for optimum sports performance.
The participants were selected from Jr. NBA Regional Selection Camps in Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Manila, and Quezon, and from the Alaska Power Camp in Manila. This year’s participation rate notably increased by 50 percent from last year, reaching over 30,000 players and coaches from all over the country.
Coaches from Focus Athletics provided the kids with an intensive training which included functional training exercises and hydration education. Elfrid Payton of Orlando Magic was present to assist in the training sessions and talk about the crucial role of hydration for anyone who wants to pursue a professional basketball career.
Payton, who was drafted 10th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2015. He averaged 12.8 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game with the Magic this season.
“It’s always an honor for us to work with Jr. NBA Philippines and help shape the future of Philippine basketball,” Pepsico Philippines Marketing Manager for Hydration Tony Atayde said. “As the global leader in sports hydration, we want to instill in them the value of proper hydration so they can maximize their potential and go on to become the next generation of top athletes.”
At the end of the National Training Camp, eight boys and eight girls were selected as Jr. NBA All-Stars. They will embark on an overseas NBA experience trip with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia later this year.
