Hydration and skills training fuel young rising athletic stars

Five months from March this year, 150 communities in Luzon took part in a grassroots program launched by Gatorade under its “Sweat Unites Us” campaign.

Created to empower young athletes at the barangay level, the “Fueled Liga” offered sports skills-building sessions, drills, and inspiration from notable Filipino athletes, as well as hydration knowledge from the Gatorade Sports Science Institute.

Inspired by the understanding that sports has the extraordinary ability to unite people and create bonds beyond the court or playing field, Gatorade embarked on a program to help athletes perform their best. As an important extension of the Fueled Liga event, camps for chosen MVPs were held and conducted by celebrity athletes who stand as the brand’s ambassadors.

Designed to inspire the young athletes further, they were given topnotch training by Gatorade pros like basketball star LA Tenorio. He held a basketball camp for 60 kids or the MVPs from Central and Southern Luzon in San Fernando, Pampanga.

Shortly after the event, Tenorio posted on his Instagram how the kids were highly trainable: “These kids just proved why they’re the Gatorade Fueled Liga MVPs! Sobrang galing nila pumick up ng lessons kaya nakakagana din sila turuan! The Gatorade Fueled Liga Camp is definitely a great way to teach aspiring athletes the importance of teamwork and proper hydration. Thanks for letting me be part of this @gatoradeph!”

“At Gatorade, we uphold sports’ transformative, bond-strengthening power, which is truly evident in activities like community leagues. Most Filipinos, in fact, play for the social aspect of these games — not only do they get to play the sport they love, but they also enjoy the chance to socialize with their teammates and have fun,” said Katrina Suarez, PepsiCo Philippines marketing lead for Non-Carbonated Beverages.

We asked both a couple of questions about their successful grassroots training.

THE PHILIPPINE STAR: What skills did you want the kids to learn?

LA TENORO: The top three things I want to impart to the kids are discipline, determination, and teamwork. These are essential in building one’s character and athletic performance.

What specific hydration