NBA Legend Glen Rice and LA Tenorio Stage NBA Cares-Globe Telecom Basketball Clinic for Underprivileged Kids

NBA Champion Glen Rice and two-time Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) most valuable player LA Tenorio staged yesterday (March 17) a two-hour NBA Cares-Globe Telecom sports clinic for underprivileged youth as part of the first-ever NBA Filipino Heritage Week from March 13-19, 2017.

Rice and Tenorio taught 40 children from Globe partner communities and Globe employee volunteers basic basketball skills such as dribbling, passing, and shooting to hone the talents of the aspiring basketball players. Both Globe and NBA Cares, the league’s global social responsibility program, share the mission of inspiring play and teaching the values of basketball as a way to address important social issues.

“In view of the Filipinos undying love for basketball, Globe is supporting the league’s week long celebration of Philippine culture through the NBA Filipino Heritage Week. Through this basketball clinic, we’re giving the underprivileged youth a chance not only to meet Glen Rice but also to be coached by an NBA legend. Together with NBA, we are able to create opportunities and unique experiences for Filipino kids that aims to bring out their potential,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications.

She added: “Sports is a great equalizer. Working with underprivileged communities and discovering several sports-oriented and talented children encourage us that we are indeed on the right track in nation-building through grassroots sports development.”

The basketball clinic is a subset of a larger Globe grassroots sports development program called “Sports Para Sa Bayan”. Due to the popularity of basketball, football, and volleyball among Filipinos, Globe uses these sports as the perfect platform to promote a healthy lifestyle, build character, and create opportunities for academic advancement for the underprivileged Filipino youth – instilling in them not only the importance of having great skills but also of good values and good education.

Meanwhile, Tenorio, who is also the founder of Method Basketball Academy, was tapped by Globe in 2016 to lead the basketball component given his passion for basketball and desire to impart his knowledge and skills to the youth.

The basketball program will kick off within the second quarter of 2017 and consists of free basketball clinics for boys and girls ages 9-14 in key cities nationwide. In addition, the program involves a 3-on-3 tournament nationwide to determine the team that will participate in the NBA 3X Philippines 2017 in Manila and get a chance to watch an NBA game abroad.