2014 Coca-Cola PBA Youngstars launched

Atty. Adel Tamano, Vice President Public Affairs and Communications of Coca-cola Philippines and Atty. Angelico Salud, PBA Commissioner . PBA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Coca-Cola Philippines and the Philippine Basketball Association tied up for the third straight year to bring one of the country’s favorite pastime closer to kids this summer.

The Coca-Cola PBA Youngstars, a nationwide grassroots program that reaches out to more than 7,000 aspiring basketball players aged 13 to 16 from all over the country, aims to engage the youth into sports — especially during their free time.

“We’re looking forward to having another successful year this summer. We intend to be all over the country for this and I’m sure all the avid basketball players are waiting for this league to happen,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud during Youngstars launch Wednesday at the Willie Caballes Hall inside the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The national tryouts begin in Metro Manila on April 1 that covers Valenzuela, Las Piñas, Pasig, Taguig, Quezon City, Marikina, Malabon, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, San Juan, Antipolo and Manila.

Provincial tryouts, meanwhile, will be held later on in Baguio, Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, Iloilo, Zamboanga, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Pampanga, Bacolod and Pangasinan, Cebu.

Laguna swept through the tournament in last year’s edition, defeating Cebu in the national finals.

“We are happy with the response of the local communities and teens who participated in the tryouts and basketball clinics. Since started the program in 2012, we were able to promote active, healthy participation in over 6000 teens,” said Adel Tamano, Coke’s Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications.

“We look forward to engaging more teens in the coming years as we inspire them to move and be active through their favorite sports,” he added.