JR. NBA 2016 PHILIPPINE ALL-STARS TO A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME NBA EXPERIENCE

- 90 Boys and Girls from Jr. NBA Programs in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam to Attend NBA Global Games China 2016 in Shanghai –

- Program Aims to Promote Healthy Lifestyles and Diet Among Southeast Asian Children -

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, Sept. 26, 2016 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Alaska Milk Corporation announced today that for the third consecutive year, Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia will travel to China to watch a live NBA game as part of the initiatives in promoting healthy lifestyle and diet among children.

Ninety Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia – boys and girls ages 10-14 – will attend NBA Global Games China 2016 presented by Master Kong in Shanghai on Oct. 9, featuring the Houston Rockets and the New Orleans Pelicans playing a preseason game at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.  The participants from the Philippines will be joined by Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam and for the first time by Jr. NBA Singapore standouts following the program’s introduction to Singapore earlier this year.  As part of their visit to Shanghai, the boys and girls will also meet with NBA players and legends, receive additional basketball training and tour the city.

“Our Jr. NBA All-Stars will once again embark on an unforgettable journey where they will get to experience a foreign country, take part in advanced basketball training and watch a live NBA game, all while engaging with their counterparts from Southeast Asia,” said NBA Asia Vice President, Global Partnerships & Events Francesco Suarez.  “This gathering creates lifelong memories and friendships for our participants, and we will continue providing even more youth with opportunities like this in the years to come.”

“I’d like to congratulate our Jr. NBA Philippine All-Stars on their success.  Through Alaska Milk’s Nutrition.Action.Champion. Program and our partnership with the NBA, we have been able to help fuel the basketball dreams and life aspirations of thousands of children across the country,” said Alaska Milk Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Wilfred Steven Uytengsu.  “This collaboration is an important element of our long-standing Nutrition.Action.Champion. campaign.  By leveraging on this initiative, Alaska Milk was able to proactively educate families and children on the important role of drinking milk and getting into sports to achieve a healthy and active lifestyle.”

The Jr. NBA is presented by Royal FrieslandCampina in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam through its Frisian Flag, Dutch Lady, Alaska Milk, and Foremost brands and is conducted in partnership with Sport Singapore in Singapore.  Promoting the importance of regular physical activity, participants are trained in the fundamentals of basketball and learn the importance of the Jr. NBA’s core values, including sportsmanship, teamwork, a positive attitude, and respect.  To date, the program has reached more than 1.5 million children, parents and coaches across Southeast Asia through camps, clinics, and NBA Cares community outreach activities, and aims to reach five million children by 2020. 

Fans can visit the official website at www.jrnba.asia for more information on the Jr. NBA programs. “Friend” the NBA’s official account on LINE by adding @nba_global.  Follow the NBA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nba and Twitter at @NBA for all the latest news and updates.  For all things NBA, visit www.nba.com.