Top prep cagers vie for Seaoil title

MANILA, Philippines - NBTC program director Eric Altamirano said before Sunday’s title game, the country’s best 30 prepsters will show their wares in an All-Star Game televised by AKTV. Coaching the All-Star teams of 15 players each are Britt Reroma of NCAA juniors champion San Beda College and Jeff Napa of UAAP juniors champion National University. Of the 30 players, 24 are from NCR including blue-chip incoming collegiate rookies Jeron Teng, G-Boy Babilonia, Thomas Torres, Jay Jay Alejandro, John Kevin Baytan and Francis Abarcar. The other six cagers were picked from 24 provincial invitees who joined 60 NCR prepsters in two-weekend tryouts that involved national junior coaches Olsen Racela, Nash Racela, Eric Gonzales and Richie Ticzon scouting for prospects.

Altamirano, a former PBA coach and player from UP, said the All-Star Game is patterned after the McDonald’s All-American template in the US where coaches vote in the players for the big event. “Because the Elite League finals won’t involve NCR schools, we invited 60 top kids from NCR to try out for the All-Star Game with 24 players from the provinces,” he said. “We cut the group from 84 to 40 before finally choosing the best 30.”

NBTC training director Alex Compton said the program, now on its sixth year, started with a three-day National Coaches Convention at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium last November. “In the past, Eric and I went to different provinces to conduct clinics for players and coaches, traveling three or four days a week,” said Compton. “We realized the coaches could learn much more if we redesigned the process to invite them to Manila. We took care of their housing and food for three days and provided a CD instructional video. We charged no fees but the coaches paid their own way to Manila.”

Over 200 coaches attended the convention which featured speakers Tim Cone on halfcourt defense, Chot Reyes on the transition game, Ricky Dandan on zone defense, Chappy Callanta on strength and conditioning and Eric Villarama on leadership issues. After the convention, the coaches went back to their schools where they competed in eliminations to decide the best prep teams in 17 cities – Baguio, San Fernando (La Union), Olongapo and Tarlac City in North Luzon, Batangas City, Lucena, Naga and Cavite City in South Luzon, Cebu City, Bacolod, Iloilo City, Tacloban and Ormoc in the Visayas and Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga City, Iligan City and Davao City in Mindanao.

“We’re bringing 17 teams to play in the Elite League finals,” said Altamirano. “Seaoil is on its second year as our major sponsor, taking over from Nokia. San Miguel-Purefoods is providing free uniforms. Molten is giving away basketballs. The teams start coming in today (Thursday) and the eliminations begin tomorrow 8 a.m. at the ULTRA and PSC Gym. The games continue on Saturday until the Final Four teams are left. On Sunday, the semifinalists play off at 8 a.m. then move over to the Ynares Sports Arena for the All-Star Game at 11 a.m. The finals will be played in the afternoon.” Former Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman will run practice for the 30 kids in the All-Star Game tomorrow 7 p.m. at the ULTRA.

Altamirano said the NBTC reaches out to over 5,000 high school players a year. “Our core values are developing skills, building character and raising leaders,” he said. “It’s about identifying talents and preparing them to become future national junior players since we’re focused on the 14-17 age bracket. We’re sanctioned by the SBP as a part of its grassroots development program.” Altamirano said the NBTC’s progress is evident in the evolution of the country’s under-16 team. “Three years ago, when I coached the under-16, most of the players were from NCR but last year, with Olsen as coach, the majority came from provinces, mostly products of the NBTC,” he said. “We believe that everything starts with good coaching. That’s why in our Coaches Convention, we tap the expertise of the best coaches so we can train our trainers, upgrade the coaching ranks in high schools all over the country, transfer technology and provide talented young players with right training and proper coaching.”

The NBTC training director is Atty. Manny Nitoreda and the four regional heads are Kim Gandarosa of North Luzon, Noli Ayo of South Luzon, Romel Rasmo of the Visayas and Arvin Martinez of Mindanao. The NBTC is separate from Altamirano’s eight-year-old Coach E camps which cater to the 4-17 age bracket in Metro Manila averaging 1,000 kids annually.