The US-based National Basketball Association (NBA) said on Tuesday that it will stage its first-ever Basketball Without Borders Asia training camp in Taiwan next month.
Announced in conjunction with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Chinese Taipei Basketball Association (CTBA), the program is to take place from June 13 to 16 in Taipei and is to be headlined by three NBA players — John Salmons of the Toronto Raptors, Ronny Turiaf of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cody Zeller of the Charlotte Bobcats.
Eight-time NBA All-Star Yao Ming will make a one-day appearance at the camp, which will bring together the top 50 players born in 1996 or 1997 from more than 20 Asian and Oceanic countries, the NBA said in an e-mailed statement.
Photo: AFP
NBA assistant coaches Bryan Gates of the New Orleans Pelicans, David Vanterpool of the Portland Trail Blazers and Bobby Jackson of the Minnesota Timberwolves are also set to participate.
“Basketball Without Borders helps us to grow the game of basketball and bring attention to important social issues that affect communities in Taiwan,” said Bimal Kapoor, associate vice president and managing director of NBA Taiwan.
According to the NBA, donations of school supplies, clothing, books, games, basketball equipment and other necessities will be made during the camp to local communities through local public welfare organizations.
Photo: AFP
“Thanks to the support of the CTBA, we are able to host this great program in Taiwan for the first time and give elite youth players the opportunity to develop their basketball skills and their life skills,” Kapoor said.
CTBA president Ting Shou-chung said he is delighted to work with the NBA to provide young talent from around the Asia-Pacific region with the opportunity to learn from the best players and coaches in the world.
The NBA has hosted a series of games and events in Taiwan, highlighted by two sets of pre-season games including the NBA Taipei Game 2009 between the Denver Nuggets and the Indiana Pacers, and the Global Games 2013 Taipei featuring the Pacers and the Houston Rockets.
Photo: Steve Mitchell / USA TODAY
The league also held the Cathay NBA Youth Madness 3-on-3 games from 2011 to this year.
The NBA and FIBA have staged 36 Basketball without Borders camps in 21 cities across 18 countries on five continents.
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