WOMEN’S National Basketball Association (WNBA) legend Ruth Riley aims to inspire young aspiring Filipina players when she graces the national selection camp of Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA Philippines 2015.
The national training camp, which will top the nationwide search for the top young players aged 10 to 14, started on Friday and will end on Sunday at the Philippine International Convention Center Forum and at the Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay City.
The Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA Philippines began its circuit on January 24, completing rounds in the cities of Bacolod, Puerto Princesa, Biñan, Iloilo, Baguio, Bacolod and Davao. The camp will trim the top players from each stop to 10 boys and six girls.
Joining the former 13-year veteran Riley during the weekend’s festivities will be Philadelphia 76ers center Nerlens Noel, who just concluded his rookie year after sitting out the entire 2013-2014 season.
Drawing from her personal experiences as a young up-and-comer trying to learn the game, Riley said she looks forward to becoming a role model for the kids.
“Those years [10 to 14] are really important for young girls because they’re struggling to gain their confidence and finding out who they are,” Riley said. “There’s a lot of doubt and that translates over to sports, too. You want to know what you want to become, but there’s that awkward phase.”
“I will just encourage for them to gain the tools, the knowledge. But if there’s anything, it’s the confidence that they need to build in themselves. And with that knowledge and skills, they can compete,” she added.
Turning serious, Riley noted that Filipinas will have to push further in order for them to have their own professional league that will play alongside the male-dominated Philippine Basketball Association, Asia’s oldest pay-for-play league.
“I think it would be a wonderful opportunity to provide a venue for women professional players. For women in the US, we fought hard for a long time to have a professional league for women to play in and we’ve only had one for 18 years. Globally, it’s a challenge we’re continually fighting for,” Riley said.
Diego de la Paz