Tuesday, January 23, 2007 Nike basketball team in C. Luzon to find talents
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The International Basketball Academy (IBA) with its newly formed Nike Elite Basketball Camp (NEBC) will be invading the provinces in the country to scout more talents from the different areas for it to help them harness their talents as future superstars.
This developed as organizers during last year's Manila leg of the camp saw the staging of the first ever basketball camp in the Philippines held at the Brent International School (BIS) in Laguna where the chosen high school players were housed and trained for six days.
The IBA of the Philippines is an organization comprised of professional basketball players and officials whose purpose is to promote the sport of basketball and share their expertise to the youth. Its mission is to elevate the standards of basketball in the amateur competition level and develop players, coaches, and officials to rise to an international level in their skills, character, and experience.
Last year's successful camp features National Basketball Association (NBA) veteran David Wood along with local basketball personalities such as Tonyboy Espinosa, BJ Manalo, Dennis Madrid, Ralph Rivera, and Rob Johnson along with guest lecturers, including coaches Tim Cone and Kirk Collier.
During a press conference held last week at the University of the Assumption (UA) Multi-Purpose Hall, camp organizer and coach Eric Altamirano announced that tryouts for Central Luzon will be on Feb. 17, 2007 at the UA's Archbishop Emilio Cinense Gymnasium from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The tryout will be open to all high school players from all over the Central Luzon, with a recommendation from their respective coaches.
"An added bonus, the coaches of the selected campers will also be invited to attend the camp's free coaching clinic to be conducted by the coaching staff," said Altamirano.
Also, Altamirano said: "We are not recruiting players, we are here to help them enhance their efficiency."
The Central Luzon leg is faithfully supported by former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) most valuable player and Councilor Renato "Ato" Agustin, the UA sports department under the tutelage of Rev. Msgr. Edgardo P. Pangan, JCD, as well as the sports officials of all the schools in the region.
Students joining the camp must be in high school level and are recommended by their respective coaches, must have good academic standing and have advanced skills in basketball, and must be able to meet the standards of competition in the UAAP, NCAA and other high school tournaments in the country.
Aspirants will be carefully chosen by the IBA selection committee headed by Altamirano and coach Edmundo Badolado.
For more information regarding the tryouts, interested applicants may contact May Flores at 09218588736, Gerry Flores at 09198482134, IBA Manila at 09217562639 or send an email at iba_elite@yahoo.com.ph. (RCG)
