Aspiring basketballers join Junior NBA Malaysia

Junior NBA Malaysia presented by Dutch Lady, which successfully returned to Malaysia for the fourth consecutive year, saw an increase in interest from youths in the game.

Coach Joselito F. Vergara [Centre] with the five aspiring
basketballers, picked to attend the Selection Camp

For the very first time the programme expanded to Johor and a clinic was recently held in Pontian.

Five young aspiring basketballers, two girls and three boys, were picked from the clinic to attend the Selection Camp that will be held in Kuala Lumpur from July 8 to 9.

The Jr. NBA Malaysia presented by Dutch Lady programme will reach more than 6,000 boys and girls at more than 200 schools for local basketball talents to be selected to join the Jr. NBA Selection Camp in Kuala Lumpur.  This will give them an opportunity to move one step closer to being named 2017 Jr. NBA Malaysia All-Star!

Participants at the clinic, going through the skill stations

The programme will culminate with eight boys and eight girls being named 2017 Jr. NBA Malaysia All-Stars. 

Later in the year, these standout campers will embark on a unique, overseas NBA experience together with their counterparts from Southeast Asia.

“I was picked to be in the basketball team because of my height. Little did I know, I began developing interest in basketball as I go through training with my team. 

I am looking forward to the Selection Camp as I take this as a challenge and to make my family proud,” said Soon Min Yi from SMK Taman Johor Jaya.  

Mother and daughter basketballers,
Michelle Koh and her daughter, Wu Ser Jing

Dutch Lady serves as the presenting partner of the Jr. NBA progamme in Malaysia for the fourth consecutive year as part of its Drink. Move. Be Strong (DMBS) platform to encourage an active lifestyle and a healthy diet among Malaysian children.

The clinics were led by Joselito F. Vergara, along with coaches from the Westports Malaysia Dragons and the Ministry of Education (MOE) from Johor.

Participants are trained in the fundamentals of basketball and learned about the importance of proper nutrition as well as the Jr. NBA’s core values of sportsmanship, teamwork, a positive attitude and respect. 

In conjunction with Mother’s Day, one of Jr. NBA’s sporting mums, Michelle Koh partnered her daughter, Wu Ser Jing, and played a quick shooting game at the clinic.

Some of the participants at the clinic held in Pontian, Johor

“I started playing basketball since primary school and never stopped ever since. As a mother of five, it is very important that each of my children maintains a healthy and active lifestyle. 

During weekends, I’d spend time with the girls at the basketball arcade machine and see who scores more. And of course, I was always the top scorer,” said Michelle happily.

The Selection Camp in Kuala Lumpur on July 8 & 9 is a two-day event made up of skill stations and clinics on the first day, followed by scrimmages and final selections on the second day.

The top 32 boys and girls from the Selection Camp will be invited to participate in the Jr. NBA National Training Camp in Kuala Lumpur from July 28-30. The National Training Camp will once again be attended by a current or former NBA player. 

For more information, visit the official event website at www.jrnba.asia/malaysia and follow the Jr. NBA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jrnbamalaysia. 

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