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From left to right: 13-year-old LJ Makiraya of QC, mentor Sarrah Costan, and 12-year-old Chulzzie Calub, also from QC. Kennedy Caacbay, ABS-CBN News

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John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174177661655020250312090340_Media.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">From left to right: 13-year-old LJ Makiraya of QC, mentor Sarrah Costan, and 12-year-old Chulzzie Calub, also from QC. <em>Kennedy Caacbay, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>SANTA MARIA, Bulacan – Sabrina Ionescu traveled to Santa Maria, Bulacan, on Wednesday to connect with her Filipino fans and inaugurate two Girls Got Game basketball courts at Sacred Heart Academy.</p><p>Ionescu also held a basketball clinic dedicated to improving the fundamentals of aspiring women athletes and inspiring the next generation to carve their paths in women&#x27;s hoops.</p><p>This served as the New York Liberty superstar&#x27;s culminating activity of the Philippine leg of her Asia Tour.</p><p>Two of the attendees of the clinic shared how Ionescu moved their lives as they met their basketball idol.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/3/12/sabrina-ionescu-plays-with-pinoy-cagers-in-show-her-love-finals-1407"><strong>READ: Sabrina Ionescu plays with Pinoy cagers in &#x27;Show Her Love Finals&#x27;<br/></strong></a></div><p>LJ Makiraya, a 13-year-old girl from Quezon City, believes she will apply her learnings today in the future.</p><p>&quot;Seeing Sabrina here in the Philippines visiting us is very inspiring and motivating,&quot; said Makiraya.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/3/12/after-breakthrough-wnba-title-sabrina-ionescu-ready-for-new-challenges-1501"><strong>READ: After breakthrough WNBA title, Sabrina Ionescu ready for new challenges<br/></strong></a></div><p>&quot;Kanina po, sobrang na-enjoy ko po and I know to myself na ia-apply ko po &#x27;yung mga naturo niya sa &#x27;kin,&quot; she added.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s making us feel na dapat mag-strive kami, katulad ni Sabrina, para ma-achieve kung saan siya nakatayo ngayon.&quot;</p><p>Makiraya hopes to be a professional women&#x27;s basketball player someday just like her WNBA idol.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/3/11/sabrina-ionescu-marks-launch-of-nike-sabrina-2-x-titan-1821"><strong>READ: Sabrina Ionescu marks launch of Nike Sabrina 2 x Titan<br/></strong></a></div><p>&quot;Someday, sana po maging pro player din po ako tulad ni Sabrina. Sana makapag-compete din po ako sa women&#x27;s NBA,&quot; she expressed.</p><p>Chulzzie Calub, a 12-year-old girl who is also from Quezon City, said she learned a lot from Ionescu.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung karanasan ko kay po ay sobrang saya po na bumisita po siya rito. Marami rin po kaming natutunan tungkol sa basketball, at lahat ng sinabi niya po sa &#x27;min, pumasok naman po sa &#x27;min,&quot; Calub expressed.</p><p>&quot;Ito po ako, nakita ko po siya, and sobrang saya ko po,&quot; she went on.</p><p>Meanwhile, their mentor, Sarrah Costan, acknowledged the impact Ionescu had on the kids.</p><p>&quot;For me, sobrang laking bagay niya para sa young girls dito sa Philippines, na nakita nila in-person si Sabrina — tinuruan sila mag-shoot, ng skills, kasi nari-realize nila, nakikita nilang ito &#x27;yung pwede nilang ma-achieve,&quot; the 28-year-old basketball program director of Girls Got Game said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABVd-sw3M79id-pr"></script>

How Sabrina Ionescu inspired these girls to pursue women's hoops

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How Sabrina Ionescu inspired these girls to pursue women's hoops

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 12, 2025 06:51 PM PHT

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