If there is one game that almost all Filipinos are passionate about, it would be basketball. Though foreign, the game has been a source of entertainment and all other good things towards Filipino society. Perhaps all basketball players would agree that the game itself is more than just a game. It helps promote fitness, teamwork and above all, discipline.
Last Saturday at the Barangay Tinago gym in Cebu City, Republika ng TM held its sole Basketball Para Sa Bayan Clinic. To lead the event and to bring forth inspiration to the young basketbolistas in the said event, TM invited basketball star and national player LA Tenorio.
The best team from the said basketball clinic will get the chance to participate in the upcoming national Basketball Association’s 3-on-3 competition in Manila which will be held this August 19-21. The Cebuano winning team will join the NBA 3x male 10-12 year old category together with their counterpart from Davao. Both teams will be guided by LA Tenorio himself who will serve as their coach.
In a statement released by TM, the basketball star shared his advocacy which is to develop young talents with the potential to lead the country on the international basketball stage. He added that basketball has always been his lifelong passion and it is an honor for him to share his knowledge and skills to the Filipino youth from different backgrounds with the aid of ™ Basketball Para Sa Bayan.
With his very much occupied schedule, Tenorio didn’t hesitate to spend his time for the Basketball clinic. LA Tenorio believed that basketball is one of the best ways of instilling the value of discipline and camaraderie into the youth’s consciousness.
In a short interview with the members of the Cebuano media, Tenorio claimed that he may be biased, but he strongly believes that Filipinos have a bright future in basketball despite the fact that the brown race aren’t mostly gifted in height. He hopes that by recognizing the youth’s potential, they will be able to apply what they have learned on the court into their daily lives, hence becoming a better person and a good citizen of the Philippines.
The Basketball clinic was developed by Globe Telecom together with LA Tenorio’s Method Basketball Academy. The partnership aims to harness the basketball skills of the Filipino youth, particularly those who are underprivileged. Aside from basketball Globe also held the TM Football Para Sa Bayan. The two sports clinic were created in order to promote grassroots sports development by establishing sports communities all over the Philippines. The advocacy is in line with TM’s commitment in creating a #WonderfulPH by helping FIlipino youth use sports as its medium.
Globe Director for Corporate Social Responsibility Mr. Fernando Esguerra Jr. said that working and helping underprivileged communities helped them discover the talented and skillful children. The director added that their efforts gave them an assurance that they are on the right track of nation-building through sports. When asked why they chose to collaborate with Tenorio, the director answered that Tenorio is the best example of gaining success through hard work, discipline and perseverance.
For this year, the telecommunications company has prepared a solid lineup of free basketball clinics and 3-on-3 tournaments all over the Philippines. Three teams from Cavite and Bulacan were selected to compete in the upcoming NBA 3x 2016 male 13015 division.
The games are already on its sixth year and expected to be participated by more than 200 teams of sports enthusiasts all over the country. Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams is set to join the event.
