Jr NBA, the US National Basketball Association’s global basketball development programme for boys and girls, is expected to reach more than 8,000 boys and girls in Vietnam. (Photo: Courtesy of FrieslandCampina Vietnam) HCM City (VNA) - The US National BasketballAssociation (NBA)’s global basketball development programme for boysand girls (Jr NBA) has returned to Vietnam for the fifth consecutive year.
The programme, which includes stops in Hanoi and HCM City, isexpected to reach more than 8,000 boys and girls in more than 200 schoolsthere. It began on March 11 with an open clinic for boys and girls and acoaches’ clinic at Ho Xuan Huong Stadium in HCM City, and will run through June.
There will be a series of school clinics followed by thefirst selection camp in Hanoi on March 31 and a second in HCM City on April 14from which the top 32 boys and girls each will be selected for the Jr. NBANational Training Camp in the latter city from June 22 to 24.
The camp will again be attended by a current player or NBAlegend. It will culminate with eight boys and eight girls being named the2018 Jr. NBA Vietnam All-Stars.
They will embark on a unique overseas NBA experience togetherwith fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia later in the year.
Last year’s Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia convened inShanghai, China, and attended the 2017 NBA China Games, a live NBA gamefeaturing the 2017 NBA Champions, the Golden State Warriors, and the MinnesotaTimberwolves.
Participants are trained in the fundamentals of basketballand learn about the importance of proper nutrition as well as the Jr. NBA’score values of sportsmanship, teamwork, a positive attitude, and respect.
The event is also supported by local basketball federations,the US consulate general in HCM City and embassy in Hanoi.
As part of the NBA’s continued commitment to providing youthin Asia with increased access to play the game, the NBA has restored abasketball court at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at HCM City.
The community initiative was announced on March 11 tocelebrate the completion of the first refurbished court in Vietnam.
During the 2017-2018 season, the NBA will reach more than 26million youth in 71 countries through a variety of camps, clinics, skillchallenges, league play, and outreach events.
Registration for the coaches’ clinic, open clinics andselection camp is available now through the official event website, www.jrnba.asia/vietnam.-VNA
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