Focus on hoop coaches

Over 1,000 coaches from all over the country will converge at the Ynares Sports Arena on Shaw Boulevard, Pasig, for the sixth annual National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) Coaches Convention which starts tomorrow and ends on Wednesday.

NBTC director Eric Altamirano said the convention is open to all coaches for free. Head coaches will be accommodated in hotels near the venue and provided meals, also for free. Altamirano said with support from the MVP Sports Foundation, the convention will welcome coaches of any level even if they’re not with the NBTC.

“We welcome walk-ins provided they pay for their accommodations and meals,” said Altamirano. “The convention is the jumping point of the NBTC. Before the local city qualifiers are held in 80 cities, coaches attend this big event. This is where we explain that the heart of the NBTC is not just about winning but developing skills, building character and raising future leaders. We want to impart to them not only the Xs and Os of the game but also to empower them to be great mentors to young athletes. We are thankful to the MVPSF for continuously supporting the program to develop our high school coaches and SM for allowing us to expand our reach and make a difference to more schools, players and coaches.”

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Altamirano said there will be foreign coaches attending the convention, too. “All the coaches will come from different parts of the country – from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” he said. “But we also have coaches from other countries like Australia. In the NBTC Finals next March, there will be four foreign countries participating – Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US so our scope both for the convention and the Finals will be international.”

Altamirano has lined up an impressive cast of speakers for the convention. In tomorrow’s program, SBP executive director Sonny Barrios will deliver the keynote address to set the tone for the gathering. Then, Gilas head coach Chot Reyes will speak in behalf of the MVPSF and share his insights from years of experience as a celebrated coach who has gone as far as matching wits with some of the game’s best minds at the FIBA World Cup.

I’ve been asked to speak about communication and I’ll break down my talk, entitled “Communicate To Educate and Motivate,” into pointers in communicating with management, staff, players, peers and media. I’ll also share key quotes from three Hall of Fame coaches Bobby Knight, John Wooden and Pat Riley. Rounding out the speakers on the first day will be Alaska Aces team analytics head Paolo Layug on scouting and Basketball Western Australian high performance manager Brett Coxsedge.

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The second day will feature Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin on offensive concept with emphasis on individual skills development, 360 Circuit Training founder Chappy Callanta on strength and conditioning for young athletes, Coxsedge on creating a competitive training environment and Alab Pilipinas coach Jimmy Alapag on being a leader.

On the third day, Ateneo de Davao athletics director Noli Ayo will speak on the NBTC as a community builder beyond coaching and Coxsedge will lecture on developing a defensive style of play. Finally, Altamirano will brief the participants on what to expect from the NBTC next season.

For details on the convention, check out www.facebook.com/SMNBTCLeague or contact Michelle Beltran at cellphone 0917-5480356 or email at [email protected].