Yesterday I was invited over to the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA Regionals at the Don Bosco Makati Technical Institute. I wasn’t really keen on what to expect on that date since I wasn’t really a sports blogger or writer for that matter and I just cover events which pique my interest which are usually geared towards food, fashion or lifestyle for that matter. However since it was a Sunday and my schedule wasn’t as packed as before I decided to visit and check this event out.
To get a bird’s eye view of what I’m talking about check out my previous post here.
I wasn’t there last Saturday during the first day since I had school that day for my MBA but upon asking what transpired on that day they said that on Day 1, Saturday, a total of 1,114 boys and girls (1030 boys, 84 girls) went to Don Bosco Technical Institute in Manila to take part in the program where their basketball skills were tested/checked. At the end of the day, 40 boys and 24 girls were chosen to return for Day 2 of the camp where amongst them the RSC Manila representatives to the National Training Camp will be chosen.
It was such a feat for these young kids to be shortlisted and come back again the next day as they went head to head with each other vying for the attention of the coaches so that they may take notice of their innate abilities which can be honed by the proper training and coaching which might propel their basketball careers someday. 🙂
On Day 2, the basketball clinic was held in the morning and in the afternoon where the scrimmages, were the boys and girls were grouped into teams and were made to play sets of basketball games where they can apply all that they have learned from day 1 and from the basketball clinic in the morning.
At the end of Day 2, those who qualified for the NTC were announced:
Boys: (16)
Mark Glenn Gabon
Luis Gabriel Aguila
Anjelo Raphael Argente
Jhondhel Austria
Jearico Nunez
Kai Zachary Sotto
Andrei Philip Lechoncito
Mark Nicole Lucban
Reich Randell Villegas
Prince Junnell De Belen
Pauloh Villarin
Patrick Lance Inting
Jericho Ross Paglinawan
Miguel Rey Luis Tan
Devon Dein Diez
Russel Ducanes
Girls: (8)
Dianne Camille Nolasco
Lalaine Gonzales
Carly Monreal
Lindsey Nacional
Magda Lioui Flores
Ma Cecilia Quilenderino
Princess Marie Villarin
Jonalyn Bongalos
To be honest, I’m not really a basketball fan but what I enjoyed while I covered this event is watching over these kids and their supportive parents who were in the sidelines cheering them on to not give up and to brush off the dirt and stand up once again and strive to excel.
Just like in life wherein we don’t always get what we want immediately since instant gratification brings us no fulfillment. We have to surpass some roadblocks, hurdles and setbacks for us to hone our skills to be better and to be the best person that we can be.
Just like these kids, what Alaska espouses on them at a very young age aside from the sport are probably the values like dedication, hard work and goal setting to chase after your dreams and never give up despite the rejections that may come their way. Because sometimes if we work hard enough and we are noticed by the skills that we have honed through time DREAMS do come TRUE and maybe we can make a difference in this world by starting with ourselves. 🙂
