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| During the media press conference: Dr. Irma Asuncion, Coach Erik Spoelstra and Mr. Ed Winkle |
I grew up watching basketball with my family especially during Tuesday and Friday nights. I relish those moments when we would all plopped down on the floor with pillows as we pass on the bucket of popcorn to each member of the family. Each of us had a favorite basketball team and player; it was truly a great bonding experience! I guess most Filipino families had their own “basketball memories” like I do since we all love the sport.
It was just too bad that most of us (yes, I am guilty) have just resorted to watch the games on TV and no longer plays the game. In fact, the results of the 7th National Nutritional Survey (NNS) of FNRI-DOST revealed that overweight prevalence almost doubled since 1993. Overweight and obesity brought about by regularly eating unhealthy fast food meals are predisposing factors to lifestyle and health-related diseases. Lifestyle diseases, however, are potentially preventable through diet and lifestyle modification. Staying physically active through regular physical activities is likewise helpful in staying fit and healthy.
It’s good to hear that the Food and Nutrition Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) is hand-in-hand with NBA Fit Program in bringing about a healthy Filipino citizenry, specifically the youngsters.
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| Presentation of the NBA Fit T-shirt |
The NBA Fit Program which started in 2007, is the league’s comprehensive health and wellness program that promotes healthy and active lifestyle for both children and adults. The program includes physical activities, nutrition and healthy choices implemented through partnership, events and products inspiring balanced and healthy lifestyle as it aims to educate individuals and families on the importance of healthy living as well as its physical, mental, and emotional benefits. The said program helps to address the pressing problems of our population on malnutrition, specifically overweight and obesity.
Headlining the NBA Fit Philippines Program will be NBA Fit Ambassador to the Philippines and Miami Heat Filipino-American Head Coach Erik Spoelstra, with Dave Fizdale and Chad Kammerer, Assistant Coaches of the Miami Heat, local health, fitness and wellness experts, as well as celebrity athletes.
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| All the people who worked together to make the NBA Fit program possible. |
“NBA Fit is a terrific program and I’m glad to be back in the Philippines for the second straight year to promote the importance of healthy living to Filipino children and their families,” says Spoelstra during the NBA Fit Media Press Conference held at the New World Hotel.
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| Miami Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra. |
“Basketball is such a huge part of my life and I know how important the sport is too for Filipino families. Being fit and staying fit is a big part of being effective in basketball. Being able to combine basketball and my heritage gives me such great pride.” He further shared about his thoughts on the program; “Being a head coach for three years is a big challenge for me. Exercise helps to manage the pressure and stress level for me. You too can find ways to motivate yourself to live an active and healthy lifestyle. It doesn’t always have to be basketball. You can swim, do weights, or any other physical activity as long as you sweat it out. Make exercise as part of your lives. Make healthy choices and develop good eating discipline. Eat a well-balanced diet.”
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| Teaching young kids to properly play basketball in one of the clinics. |
NBA Fit Philippines Events will be as follows:
NBA Fit Clinics—Basketball clinics will be held in selected grade schools, high schools, colleges and universities, as well as SM shopping malls throughout Metro Manila.
NBA Fit Development Camp presented by Gatorade—A special NBA-style basketball camp for elite athletes of the Energen Philippine Under-16 National Team that will be preparing for the SEABA Qualifiers for the FIBA-Asia Under-16 Championships in October. The camp will be held on August 5, 2011 (Friday) at the Araneta Coliseum.
Celebrity NBA Fit Challenge—Following the Development Camp, famous celebrities from the entertainment and sport world will showcase their commitment to health and fitness by participating in this event. Sixteen celebrities will be divided into 4-member teams and will attempt to finish the NBA Fit Challenge in their quickest time possible. The winning team will win prizes for their chosen charity. This will also be held at the Araneta Coliseum on August 5, 2011.
NBA Fit Fun Run presented by Air21—The second annual NBA Fit Fun Run, co-organized by NBA and RunRio, the premier race organizer in the Philippines, will be held on August 7, 2011 (Sunday) at the Fort Bonifacio Global City. Approximately 6,000 runners are expected to participate in the said run. Distances include 3K, 5K, 10K and a newly added 21K. For registration details, log on to RunRio.com
NBA Cares—Coach Erik Spoelstra, the NBA Fit Team with Philippine Department of Health Secretary Enrique Ona partners to promote healthy living among local Filipino youth and to educate them on the dangers of smoking, drugs and excessive alcohol consumption. It will be held at Florentino Torres High School, Juan Luna Street., Gagalangin, Tondo, Manila on August 4, 2011 (Thursday). The NBA will hold a basketball clinic that will teach kids the fundamentals of basketball through group drills and fun games.
NBA Fit Mall Tour will be held in SM Mall of Asia on August 6 and 7 (Saturday and Sunday) starting 11AM. Both events are FREE and are OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
NBA Fit is organized by NBA Philippines with official partners Air21, Energen, and Gatorade. Alaska Yoghurt Drink, Head and Shoulders, Sanofi-Aventis and Philippine Airlines are associate partners. Basketball TV, Studio 23 and NBA Premium TV are media partners. Run Rio, SBP and Fitness First are sport partners. Venue partners are SM Malls, Araneta Center, New World Hotel, with the Department of Health and Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) as Community Partners.
