I got to meet NBA star Elfrid Payton, 23, at the culminating activity of the National Training Camp of the Jr. NBA Philippines presented by Alaska at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay City, Philippines, on May 14, Sunday. I asked the Orlando Magic point guard who he considered as the best NBA player of all time.
For Payton, retired professional basketball player Michael Jordan, 54, is the best player in the history of NBA. Jordan started his NBA career in 1984 with Chicago Bulls and retired after playing for Washington Wizard from 2001 to 2003.
Aside from Payton, the culminating activity of the National Training Camp of the Jr. NBA Philippines was also attended by WNBA All-Star Sue Wicks, 50, and retired NBA star Dikembe Mutombo, 50.
Among the standouts during the event were Kenji Duremdes, 14, and Echo Laure, 14. The former is the son of former PBA player Kenneth Duremdes while the latter is the son of another retired professional basketball player Eddie Laure.
Jr. NBA, the league's global youth basketball program, taught campers fundamental basketball skills and helped with building character and promoting the active lifestyle for the young aspiring cagers. Payton and Wicks joined Jr. NBA coaches Chris Summer and Jeffrey Cariaso in conducting the camp.
Among the campers from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, eight boys and eight girls were chosen as this year's All-Stars. Icluding Kenji and Echo, the chosen boys were Kenji's La Salle Greenhills teammates Jan Clement Macalalag and Victorino Torres, as well as St. Francis National High School's Jeryk Dwight Bait, 14, University of San Carlos-North Campus's Reinhard Jumanoy, 13, Escuela de Sophia-Caloocan's Johndel Austria, 13, and Ateneo de Iloilo's Ian Dominic Espinosa, 13.
Most of the chosen girls are 13 years old namely the University of the Visayas's Chinnsai Demana, St. Paul Pasig's Jazmine Ann Maniquis, La Salle College Antipolo's Lindsey Nacional, and Chiang Kai Shek College's Jane Araza and Jeehan Nikaela Ahmed. Miriam College's Camille Nolasco, 14, and Boni Marylene Solis, 12, also made it to the All-Stars.
Watch a video of Payton here: