Orlando Magic's Elfrid Payton and WNBA Sue Wicks will be in Manila for the NBA's National Training Camp

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, May 5, 2017 – The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced that Elfrid Payton of the Orlando Magic and former WNBA player Sue Wicks will travel to Manila to participate in the Jr. NBA Philippines 2017 National Training Camp and help coach players from around the country vying to be named 2017 Jr. NBA All-Stars.  The National Training Camp will be held at the Don Bosco Technical Institute May 12-13 and at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall on May 14.

Payton and Wicks will also serve as coaches at the annual Jr. NBA Alumni All-Star Game featuring past Jr. NBA standouts from across the country.  Participation in this year’s program increased by 50 percent from 2016, reaching more than 30,000 players and coaches in cities including Bacolod, Batangas, Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Davao, Lucena, Metro Manila, and Puerto Princesa.

“I’m excited to visit the Philippines for the first time and experience the country’s enthusiastic basketball culture,” said Payton.  “These young players have worked hard to be a part of this camp, and I can’t wait to get on the court with them.”

“Having visited the Philippines before, I’ve seen firsthand the passion that young boys and girls here have for the game,” said Wicks.  “I’m looking forward to the trip and to working with the Jr. NBA participants to help take their game to the next level.”

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.

Wicks, a former WNBA All-Star, was selected 6th overall in the 1997 WNBA Draft.  She spent six seasons in the WNBA with the New York Liberty and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.

The Jr. NBA Philippines 2017 presented by Alaska culminates with the National Training Camp, which features the top 37 boys and top 37 girls participating in advanced fundamental skills training and exhibition games.  The finalists were selected from Jr. NBA Regional Selection Camps in Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Manila, and Quezon, and from the Alaska Power Camp in Manila. 

At the end of the National Training Camp, eight boys and eight girls will be selected as Jr. NBA All-Stars and will embark on an overseas NBA experience trip with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia later this year.  The program will also feature the selection of the 2017 Jr. NBA Coaches of the Year who will join the Jr. NBA All-Stars on the overseas trip.

The Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls, teaches the fundamental skills and the core values of the game at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches, and parents.  During the 2016-17 season, the NBA will reach more than 18 million youth in 53 countries through its youth participation initiatives.

The Jr. NBA Philippines presented by Alaska continues to promote proper nutrition and an active lifestyle, serving as an effective platform in implementing Alaska Milk’s NUTRITION.ACTION.CHAMPION. program that helps address the issue of overweight and undernourished children in the Philippines.

Cloudfone, Gatorade, Globe Telecom, and Panasonic serve as Official Partners of the Jr. NBA in the Philippines, while Spalding is a Supporting Partner.  ABS-CBN Sports + Action, Basketball TV and NBA Premium TV are the Official NBA Broadcasters of the Jr. NBA in the Philippines.

Fans can follow Jr. NBA at www.jrnba.asia/philippines and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jrnbaphilippines.  For all things NBA, visit www.nba.com and follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/philsnba) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/nba_philippines).

To learn more about the Alaska Milk Corporation, visit www.alaskamilk.com and www.playph.com.