Pangungunahan nina Norris Cole ng New Orleans Pelicans at WNBA Champion Taj McWilliams-Franklin ang pagbibigay ng mensahe sa mga kalahok sa Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2016 National Training Camp sa Abril 22-23, sa Don Bosco Technical Institute at Mall of Asia Music Hall sa April 24.
Sasamahan nina Cole at McWilliams-Franklin si Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Head Coach Craig Brown para ang mga finalists at maging coach sa gaganaping Jr. NBA Alumni All-Star Game.
Umabot sa 20,000 kabataan ang nakiisa sa programa ngayong taon.
“I’ve heard basketball is a way of life in the Philippines, and I look forward to experiencing this passion during my first visit to the country,” sambit ni Cole.
“I am also eager to work with the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA participants and to share the importance of a winning attitude on and off the court,” aniya.
“It feels great knowing how much boys and girls in the Philippines appreciate basketball,” pahayag naman ni McWilliams-Franklin.
“I’m excited to share my time on and off the court and inspire more children to play the game.”
Miyembro si Cole, na-draft sa NBA bilang ika-28 overall noong 2011, ng Miami Heat na nagkampeon noong 2012 at 2013 kung saan naitala niya ang average 10.6 puntos, 3.7 assist at 3.4 rebound per game.
Isa namang two-time WNBA champion si McWilliams-Franklin at six-time WNBA All-Star. Sa loob ng 14 season, naglaro siya sa koponan ng Orlando Miracle, Connecticut Sun, Los Angeles Sparks, Washington Mystics, Detroit Shock, New York Liberty at Minnesota Lynx.
Sa pagtataguyod ng Alaska, magtatapos ang Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines National Training Camp, tampok ang 50 kabataang lalaki at 24 babae. Ang mga finalist ay nagmula sa isinagawang elimination stage sa Baguio, Cebu, Davao at Manila.
May 10 batang lalaki at limang babae ang pipilin para maging kinatawan ng bansa.