MANILA, Philippines — Philippine youth team standout Jollo Go got the surprise of his life when he was invited by the NBA to be part of the annual Basketball Without Borders Global Camp.
Go was among the few and the only Filipino asked to participate in the camp, which features 39 players from 23 countries.
In an interview with abscbnnews.com, Go said he was “in disbelief” when he was informed that he was being invited by the NBA, and that the news only sunk in when he saw the invitation himself.
“Hindi po ako makapaniwala, (I couldn’t believe it),” Go told abscbn.com. “Pinakita nila sa akin yung letter ng NBA (They showed me the letter by the NBA). Sabi ko, totoo pala. (I told myself, it really is true). Hindi ako makapaniwala (I couldn’t believe it). Sa dami-dami ng naglalaro ako pa (Of the many players, they chose me).
The BWB Global Camp will be held during the All-Star Weekend on Feb. 13 to 15 in New York City, marking the first time it will take place in the US.
The campers will be trained and mentored by several NBA players including Danilo Gallinari of the Denver Nuggets and Gorgui Dieng of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Gallinari and Dieng were graduates of the event that has 33 of its previous campers drafted in the NBA.
Tiago Splitter of the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs and Steven Adams of Oklahoma City Thunder will also help conduct drills during the camp.
Go, a Hope Christian High school star, showed he belongs in the international scene as well after being one of the stars of the country’s U-17 and U-18 teams. Go has recently committed to De La Salle University in the UAAP.
The camp is run by the NBA and international basketball governing body Fiba.