Three Filipinos were chosen to participate in the first Basketball Without Borders Camp in Australia.
Jr. NBA Philippines 2014 All-Star Paul Matthew Manalang, Jed Cedrick Colonia, and John Mark Lagumen will be a part of the 45 boys from Asia-Pacific who will see action in the groundbreaking camp to be held on June 23 to 26 at Dandenong Basketball Stadium in Melbourne.
The National Basketball Association (NBA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and Australia’s National Basketball League (NBL) will all join forces in staging this global basketball development and community outreach program, as Basketball Without Borders celebrates its 15th year.
“We are pleased to partner with FIBA and the NBL to bring the first Basketball without Borders camp to Australia,” said NBA Asia Managing Director Scott Levy in a statement. “The league has seen a surge of Australian talent in recent years, and we look forward to supporting the next generation by giving them a platform to showcase their skills alongside their peers from throughout the region.”
The camp will be officiated by the president of the World Association of Basketball Coaches (WABC) Patrick Hunt.
Campers will be under the supervision of NBA, FIBA and NBL players and coaches as they lead an extensive community outreach events in Melbourne and Geelong through NBA Cares, with numerous events including a Jr. NBA youth basketball clinic, an NBA Cares court dedication, a Jr. NBA wheelchair basketball exhibition game and clinic, and life skills sessions stressing the importance of leadership, character and communication, lined up.
BWB Asia will also have a girls camp for the top female players in Victoria and a Jr. NBA camp for the local youth.
Since 2001, BWB has reached more than 2,500 participants from 130 countries and territories, with 37 campers drafted into the NBA. Twenty-one former BWB campers were on opening-night rosters for the 2015-16 NBA season.