Coca-Cola Philippines recently reaffirmed its commitment to promote healthy and active living during the second year kick-off of the Coca-Cola PBA Youngstars Basketball League.

Coca-Cola PBA Youngstars is a nationwide grassroots program, which aims to reach out to more than 7,000 aspiring basketball stars aged 13 to 16 across different cities, provinces, and municipalities in the country.

“We have partnered with the Philippine Basketball Association for this program because leading an active healthy lifestyle has a positive impact on health and wellbeing, delivering a range of physical, mental and social benefits especially for young people,” says Atty. Adel Tamano, Vice-President for Public Affairs and Communications for Coca-Cola Philippines.

The thrust of Coca-Cola Philippines towards Healthy and Active Living is hinged on a global commitment to well-being, women empowerment and water replenishment.

Active and healthy living helps consumers make informed choices about day-to-day food consumption, proper hydration, and the benefits of engaging in various forms of exercise like basketball.

“We want Coca-Cola PBA Youngstars participants to embrace active healthy living. And as the leading beverage company in the Philippines, the three-step action plan of Coca-Cola towards this is to Think, Drink, Move. To Think means to be educated through Coca-Cola programs like our basketball clinics. To Drink means to carefully consider one’s beverage choices and hydrate properly. Coca-Cola has a wide variety of products that people can choose from, depending on their taste, as well as energy or calorie needs. To Move means to engage in physical activity like basketball to achieve energy balance,” adds Tamano.

Through Youngstars, teen participants get a 360-degree exposure to the Think, Drink, Move concept.

Health experts say a simple way for teens to keep their health in check is to always keep their food intake in moderation – not too much nor too little. A sensible and healthy eating plan should include a mix of carbohydrates, protein, fiber, with a moderate amount of sugar, all within the daily recommended energy and nutrition intake (RENI).

He concludes, “Part of active healthy living is having energy balance. This refers to the concept of balancing calories in with calories out to maintain a healthy weight. As long as you balance the calories you take in with the calories you burn, while also ensuring you‘re meeting your nutrient needs, any food or beverage, including Coke, can be part of an active healthy lifestyle. Regular physical activity helps maintain this equation and is essential for overall fitness and health.”

The Coca-Cola PBA Youngstars is one of many initiatives of Coca-Cola that promotes Healthy Active Living. Globally, Coca-Cola supports over 280 physical activity and nutrition education programs in more than 115 countries.

Provincial tryouts for the Coca-Cola PBA Youngstars Basketball League runs from April 2 – 14, covering Cagayan de Oro, Laoag, Iloilo, Zamboanga, Cavite, Laguna Bacolod, Pangasinan, Davao, Cebu, Pampanga, and Batangas. Metro Manila tryouts begin April 1 until 13, starting at Valenzuela, Marikina, Caloocan, San Juan, Manila, Taguig, Rizal, Navotas, Muntinlupa, Cainta, Pasig, and Las Pinas.

Kids aged 13-16 are also encouraged to join the basketball clinics with Ronnie Magsanoc as coach. Tryout and clinic schedules can be viewed at the Coca-Cola Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/presidentforhappiness), www.coca-cola.com.ph, or simply follow @Coke_HappyPrez on Twitter.

Schedule for Tryouts (Metro Manila)

Apr 2 MARIKINA Cesna Covered Court, Concepcion 1, Marikina City 4pm – 6 pm

Apr 3 CALOOCAN Bagong Silang, Caloocan 3pm – 5pm

Apr 4 SAN JUAN San Juan Gym 9am – 11 am

Apr 5 MANILA San Andres Complex 8am – 12nn

Apr 6 TAGUIG DMAC Covered Court, New Lower Bicutan 10am – 12 nn Kevin Noque

Apr 8 RIZAL (ANTIPOLO) Ynares Gym 1pm Relly Bernardo/ Maricel Jugo

Apr 9 NAVOTAS Navotas Sports Complex 2pm – 4pm Jeff Laureano

Apr 10 MUNTINLUPA Muntinlupa Sports Center Tunasan 9am – 12 nn Christian Navarro

Apr 11 CAINTA Cainta Catholic College 9am – 11 am Jeff Lopez/ Jerry Ruitas / Jimmy Mariano

Apr 12 PASIG Brgy. Sumilang Covered Court 2pm Marco Caluag / Beaujing Acot

Apr 13 LAS PINAS Our Lady of Pillar Montessori, Pilar Village Las Pinas 8am – 10 am Dong Fernandez

Schedule for Tryouts (Provincial)

April 2 – 3 CAGAYAN DE ORO Mindanao Univesity of Science and Technology Gymnasium 8am – 12nn Pete Alfaro

Apr 5 CEBU Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu Mango Ave. Campus Gym 2pm – 4pm Yayoy Alcoseba c/o Mr.Rico Navarro

Apr 5 ILOILO Ateneo de Iloilo Gym, San Rafael, Mandurriao, Iloilo City 9am – 12nn Coach Jerry Jaranilla

Apr 6 LAOAG Laoag City Hall 9am Perry Martinez

Apr 6 – 7 ZAMBOANGA Zamboanga City Coliseum 830am - 5pm Pete Alfaro

Apr 6 – 7 CAVITE Bacoor Coliseum Camella Springville, Molino 3, Bacoor City (Apr 6) / Molino 3 Brgy Covered Court, Molino Road, Bacoor (Apr 7) 8am – 12nn Ranel Villadelrey

Apr 7 BATANGAS University of Batangas Gym, University of Batangas, Hilltop Site Batangas City 1pm – 4pm Judd Cauntay

Apr 8 – 9 LAGUNA San Pedro Laguna, Open Court Town Plaza 7am – 11am Gherome Ejercito c/o Jun Usman

Apr 10 – 11 BACOLOD West Negros University Gym 9am – 12nn Tony Agustin

Apr 13 PANGASINAN c/o Mr. Edil Abalos Pangasinan Universal Institute Covered Court, Rizal St. Dagupan City 830am – 12nn Danny Soria

Apr 13 DAVAO Almendra’s Gym, Davao City 8am – 12nn Pete Alfaro

Apr 14 PAMPANGA Pampanga Convention Center, San Fernando City 830am – 12nn

About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's portfolio features 15 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.8 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates.

For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo or check out our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com.