(VNF) - The US National Basketball Association (NBA)’s global basketball development program for boys and girls (Jr NBA) has returned to Vietnam for the fifth consecutive year, said the Vietnam News.

The event is also supported by local basketball federations, the US consulate general in HCM City and embassy in Hanoi.

According to the Vietnam News, over 8,000 students in more than 200 schools in Hanoi and HCM City are expected to reap benefit from the exchange.

The program, kick started on March 11 with an open clinic for boys and girls and a coaches’ clinic at Ho Xuan Huong Stadium in HCM City, will run through June.

There will be a series of school clinics followed by the first selection camp in Hanoi on March 31 and a second in HCM City on April 14 from which the top 32 boys and girls each will be selected for the Jr. NBA National Training Camp in the latter city from June 22 to 24, said the Vietnam News.

Jr NBA, the US National Basketball Association’s global basketball development program for boys and girls, is expected to reach more than 8,000 boys and girls in Vietnam. Photo: Courtesy of FrieslandCampina Vietnam

The camp will again be attended by a current player or NBA legend. It will culminate with eight boys and eight girls being named the 2018 Jr. NBA Vietnam All-Stars.

The participants will embark on a unique overseas NBA travel together with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia later in the year.

In addition to the fundamentals of basketball techniques, participants will receive training on the importance of proper nutrition as well as the Jr. NBA’s core values of sportsmanship, teamwork, a positive attitude, and respect.

As part of the NBA’s continued commitment to providing youth in Asia with increased access to play the game, the NBA has restored a basketball court at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at HCM City.

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

( VNF )