Amazing Jing for Life: Ervin Sotto

Philippine Basketball's future looking bright

Meet Kyle "Kai" Zachary Sotto, a 13 year old junior basketball player with a towering height of 6'9"

Philippines is considered a "Basketball Crazy" country, as they say. And I say, we can proudly claim it. When I attended the opening of the second NBA store in the Philippines, which was located at the SM Megamall Fashion Hall, the 1987 NBA All-Rookie Team and 5-Time NBA Champion, Ron Harper was there.

That's me with NBA Legend Ron Harper

During the said launch, Mr. Harper has admitted that he was very surprised and was at awe when he saw numerous basketball courts in almost every corner of our busy streets. Actually, if you would really focus on counting those, Mr. Harper's observation has a viable basis, right?

In my family, I've grown to love and watch basketball games, since our father was an avid fan of the popular sport. It has become a part of our system, perhaps our Filipino culture. And this sport, plays a very essential role most especially to the younger generations.

The Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Ph Presented by Alaska, is one of Alaska milk's programs that shape, train, challenge and inspire children to achieve their dreams and aspirations in life.

The 50 boys and 30 girls who were able to surpass the drills and challenges during the first day of Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA as Presented by Alaska.

Just recently, I had a great opportunity of covering the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA search for best basketbal players as presented by Alaska. In all of the 1,114 who participated during the first day of judging and screening held at Don Bosco in Makati City, only 16 boys and 8 girls were chosen. They were the most fortunate ones who will make up the All-Star Team which will be concluded during the National Training Camp.

And of all those junior players who participated, only one made it on my stand-out list. He should really be that eye-catcher and attention drawer, since his height is already 6'9" at a very tender age of thirteen. He studied at St. Francis of Assisi in Las Pinas. Shoe size? A whooping 15" He's an incoming 7th grader this next school year, so for all those who's interested to have him in their school's varsity teams, go come and watch him play, this April 22 and 23 in Don Bosco Makati and on April 24, at the Music Hall of SM Mall of Asia.

That's me with the instant junior basketball superstar (I call him like that), Kai Sotto, our future NBA player, son of former PBA ALASKA player, Ervin Sotto.

Kai and his team mates in the red team was being instructed by their coach, during the second day of the Jr. NBA / Jr. WNBA Presented by Alaska.

Kai really is fond of drinking Alaska Milk and look what it has done to him?

I say this kind of junior basketball player like Kai, who has acquired the right discipline, great attitude, has full respect of others and with good family values, would definitely make the Philippine Basketball's future looks so bright!

Here's my interview with him, you be the judge.

This future basketball superstar is now the point of interest of the majority of the basketball afficionados! Look at the page views of my interview with him during the #JrNBA #JrWNBA event!

And if you would also take a closer look and click the comment box below the video, our fellow Pinoys are so hopeful and wishes him all the best!

Congratulations to the 30 (16 boys and 8 girls) who made it to the National Training Camp. They can now advance to the next phase. See you on April 22-24!!! Best of luck kids!

Such a very humble and a bit shy Kai, during our interview with him. Your parents must be really proud of you! Congrats Kai!!!

We are all looking forward towards your advancement! Hope that you achieve all your dreams and goals. We can't wait to see you make us all proud! Proud Pinoys we are!

Go Kai, Go!!!

Here are some of the behind the scene photos from my coverage of Jr. NBA /Jr. WNBA Presented by Alaska click here

To learn more of Alaska milk, and its roster of sporting programs, log on to www.playph.com

Basketball clinic locations can be found on www.faceboo.com/jrnbaphilippines

You can also visit www.jrnba.asia/philippines

Also visit www.alaskamilk.com

Thank you for always being here amazing peeps! Hope it wouldn't take much of your time if I'd ask you to

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Ciao! 'Til our next!

Posted in: All-Star, Basketball in the Philippines, Ervin Sotto, giant kid, Jr. NBA Kai Sotto, Kai Sotto, Kyle Sotto, Who is Kyle Sotto | Posted by : Amazing Jing Javier

The Search for Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA Best Basketball players continues in Manila as presented by Alaska

Congratulations to the #JrNBA / #JrWNBA qualifiers for the National Training Camp. The tallest in the middle is 13 year old, 6'9" in height, Kai Sotto, son of former PBA Alaska player. Ervin Sotto

The Jr.NBA and Jr.WNBA Presented by Alaska continues its search for the best basketball players in the country when it holds its last Regional Selection Camp at the Don Bosco Institute, Makati on April 9 and 10.

Boys and girls may join the search for the ten best boy and five best girl basketball players who will become members of the Jr.NBA and Jr.WNBA All-Star team. There is also a search for the boy and girl coaches who will handle the two teams.

The All-Star Team will travel overseas for their NBA experience trip together with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia. The 2015 Jr. NBA All-Stars traveled to China to watch the NBA Global Games in Shenzhen featuring the Charlotte Hornets and the L.A. Clippers.

It is free and open to boys and girls ages 10 to 14 years old (born 2002 to 2006). Interested parties may register at the venue in Don Bosco Institute in Makati or online through www.jrnba.asia/philippines.

The Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA Presented by Alaska is one of Alaska Milk’s programs that shape, train, challenge and inspire children to achieve their dreams and aspirations in life.

“These holistic programs train children to be confident, disciplined and hardworking because Alaska Milk Corporation aims to prepare them to be winners in life in the future. This year’s program includes new locations such as Batangas, Catanduanes and Cavite to reach more children and coaches and discover the best basketball players across the country,” said Blen Fernando, Marketing Director.

The 2011 National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) revealed that three out of ten children aged 5-10 years were underweight while eight out of one hundred children of the same age were overweight, making malnutrition and obesity two of the most pressing nutritional problems in the Philippines today.

The Jr.NBA and Jr.WNBA presented by Alaska is under Alaska Milk’s Nutrition.Action. Champion program. It helps address the issue of overweight and undernourished Filipino children with the promotion of proper nutrition and active lifestyle through sports and outdoor play.

This year’s program started with the tip-off at in the same venue last Jan. 23. School clinics, that teach the fundamentals of basketball, will run in April with stops in Bukidnon, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Dagupan, Davao, Iloilo, Metro Manila and Puerto Princesa. New locations include Batangas, Catanduanes and Cavite.

Other than Manila, the Regional Selection Camps were also held at Davao City, Cebu City and Baguio City. The top 50 boys and 24 girls from the Regional Selection Camps will advance to the final selection stage in the National Training Camp in Manila on April 22-24.

NBA and WNBA players or legends will attend the National Training Camp to help train and inspire the finalists. The program will culminate with the selection of ten Jr. NBA and five Jr. WNBA All-Stars.

More than 36,000 players and 2,700 coaches have participated in the program since it started in the Philippines in 2007. During the 2015-16 season, the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA program will reach more than 6.5 million youth in 32 countries.

The Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA is the league’s global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls which teaches the fundamental skills as well as the core values of the game at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents.

For general information about Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA Philippines presented by Alaska please visit www.jrnba.asia/philippines, www.alaskamilk.com, and www.alaskapowercamp.com/basketball. For live updates log on to www.alaskaplayph.com follow us on FB, IG and Twitter @playph #jrnba #jrwnba.