With former Chicago Bulls superstar point guard BJ Armstrong as one of the coaches in the three-day camp, it was indeed a thrill of a lifetime for 40 young athletes who participated in the Jr. NBA program which ends Sunday at the Jose Rizal University Gym.

Antonio Villaruz, a fourth year high school student at Ateneo University in Iloilo City, said the presence of 6-foot-2 Armstrong has boosted his confidence, making more determined to improve on his basketball skills.

“He’s really an inspiration. He told us to keep working hard and keep believing that we can make it big someday,” Villaruz, the tallest among the participants at 6-foot-1, said in Filipino.

Another Cebuano, Jarek Mercado from Sacred Heart in Cebu, said that Armstrong, who won three NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls with legendary teammates Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen from 1991 to 1993, encouraged them to focus on the fundamentals of basketball.

“He said teamwork, camaraderie, playing defense, following your coach... those are the important things that we have to focus on,” Mercado said.

Armstrong said basketball fundamentals should be the priority for young athletes for them to become better citizens in the society.

This is the same reason why he’s trying to give back by teaching aspiring basketball players after a successful NBA career.

Aside from the Bulls, Armstrong also played for four other ball clubs in his 11 seasons in the NBA. He retired after the 2000 season and currently represents Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, the top overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and the 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year.

Last Saturday, the 42-year-old Armstrong was at the Boys Town in Marikina City where he conducted a basketball clinic with American coach Frank Lopez.

The Philippine leg of the Jr. NBA program presented by Hi-Smart Multi-Vitamins will end today at the JRU Gym with the All-Star Game. The 40 participants will be divided into two groups to be coached by former PBA players Ronnie Magsanoc, Benjie Paras, Elmer Cabahug, and Cadel Mosqueda.

Also, the top eight campers will be announced to form the Jr. NBA Philippine All-Star team, which will compete in a tournament against other countries at the start of the 2010-11 NBA Season.