Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball program for boys and girls, last week marked its return to Vietnam for the fourth consecutive year with its expansion to three cities in the country in 2017, including a first time stop in Danang and return visits to Hanoi and HCMC.

With this comeback, Jr. NBA would reach more than 5,000 boys and girls aged between 10 and 14 at over 200 schools across the three cities to help encourage and empower more Vietnamese youth to chase their basketball dreams. 

Dutch Lady, one of the brands of Royal FrieslandCampina, will serve as the presenting partner of the Jr. NBA in Vietnam for the fourth consecutive year.

According to Francesco Suarez, NBA Asia Vice President, Global Marketing Partnerships, basketball’s popularity has grown substantially since the first Jr. NBA program was introduced to Vietnam in 2014. 

“We believe there is a real opportunity to further improve the youth basketball experience and enhance player health and wellness by implementing guidelines for how the game should be played and taught at the grassroots level, Suarez added.

The program kicked off last Saturday with an open clinic for boys and girls and a coach clinic at the Ho Xuan Huong Sport Club in HCMC’s District 3, and will run through June 2017.  

All three cities will host a series of school clinics, followed by the first selection camp on March 17 in Hanoi and the second selection camp in HCMC on April 22. 

The top 32 boys and girls from the two selection camps will be invited to participate in the Jr. NBA National Training Camp in HCMC from June 23-25.

The NBA will refurbish a basketball court in Vietnam and dedicate it to the local community in June to help bring better access for local youth to play the game.

A current player or NBA legend is expected to attend the National Training Camp which will culminate with eight boys and eight girls being named 2017 Jr. NBA Vietnam All-Stars. 

These outstanding campers will embark on a unique overseas NBA experience together with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia later this year.

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

Dutch Lady has partnered with the NBA as part of its Drink.Move.BeStrong campaign to help foster an active lifestyle and diet while highlighting the important role milk plays in children’s growth and development. 

According to SEANUTS research, a South East Asia Nutrition Study on nutrition in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, more than one in five Vietnamese children lead inactive lifestyles and drink less than one 180ml pack of milk per day. 

The findings suggest that these children are 2.6 times more likely to be obese when compared to active kids who drink at least one 180ml pack of milk every day. 

Registration for the coach clinic, open clinics and selection camp is available now through the website www.jrnba.asia/vietnam.  

Fans can follow Jr. NBA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jrnbavietnam.

SGT