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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Sunday, January 22, 2017
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DISABILITY has not stopped Jessma Ramos from cracking in the 14-woman lineup of the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons in UAAP Season 79 women’s volleyball tournament.
Ramos, an alumna of Trinity Christian School in Bacolod City, said she is glad to serve as inspiration. Despite having only three fingers on her right hand, she is determined to prove her worth.
“It is somewhat empowering,” Ramos said in an online interview. “Gusto ko din na maka-inspire ng mga tao. Kasi merong iba na tine-take nila ‘yung mga ganung kondisyon nila as hindrance.”
“Sa totoo lang, ito ‘yung nagpapalakas sa akin. In a way, ‘yung kakulangan na iyon ang nag-push sa akin to work even harder para masabayan ko ‘yung mga taong kumpleto,” she added.
The Bacolodnon blocker revealed in an online interview that the reason of her underdeveloped right hand was her mother’s intake of medication while she was being conceived.
“Every time iniisip at sinasabi ko sa self ko na pag complete ang fingers ko feeling ko mas may ilalakas pa ako, lalo na kapag nakita ko ‘yung iba. But I started to accept na rin,” she said.
“Parang hindi na man narin kasi big deal e. Na-realize ko na nakakasulat naman ako using my right hand. Nakakapaglaro naman ako ng badminton. Normal naman, kaya hindi ko na lang siya iniisip,” she added.
The 5-foot-8 middle blocker will become the second player from Western Visayas in the Jerry Yee-mentored Lady Maroons final roster along with Ilongga Arielle Estranero, who was named team captain.
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The Jr. NBA Philippines 2017 presented by Alaska will be returning to the Philippines for another edition this year as part of the league’s effort to encourage youth basketball participation.
Jr. NBA teaches participants the fundamental skills and 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.
In addition, the league’s global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls will introduce a court refurbishment initiative that will revitalize a community court through the NBA Cares platform.
The Jr. NBA Philippines 2017 presented by Alaska is free and open to boys and girls ages 10-14 and is comprised of four stages: skills clinics in schools and communities, Regional Selection Camps, a National Training Camp, and an NBA experience trip.
The annual skills clinics will be held nationwide from January through April with stops in Bacolod City, Batangas City, Cagayan De Oro City, Cavite, Cebu, Metro Manila, and Subic.
The top 37 boys and 37 girls from the Regional Training Camps will advance to the National Training Camp in Manila on May 12 to 14, which will feature an NBA and WNBA player or legend.
The program will culminate with the selection of 16 Jr. NBA All-Stars, comprised of eight boys and eight girls, who will embark on an overseas NBA experience trip with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia.
“Jr. NBA has provided world-class basketball instruction to communities across the country and produced a roster of athletes competing both on the local and international stage,” said NBA Philippines managing director Carlo Singson.
“We are grateful for our partnership with Alaska, which supports our mission of instilling the core values of our game and promoting an active lifestyle among youth in the Philippines,” he added./PN
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