SBP's Antonio lauds Elite 60 camp for boosting hoops grassroots

MANILA, Philippines — Gilas Pilipinas team manager and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas director Butch Antonio welcomes the Elite 60 Development Camp for the search for young basketball talent for the national program.

The Elite 60 Development Camp is a four-day camp held from May 10-13 at the Colegio De San Agustin Gym inside Dasmariñas Village in Makati, where 60 of the best 16-under basketball talents are trained under the watchful eye of Australian coach Rob Beveridge, who is back once again as head trainer.

“What Coach Eric Altamirano and Alex Compton have done is to reach out to the grassroots and expand the pool of talent for our national teams,” pointed out Antonio, who has been with the national program for exactly a decade now.

“The Elite 60 Camp is now focused on the 16-and under age group to identify talents and to train them this early,” added Antonio. “And the SBP and the Elite 60 Camp have also spotted young talent from Filipinos born overseas who are of 14 years of age. So there is time to get them Philippine passports.”

The FIBA rule on eligibility can be found in Book 3 Chapter 1, which stipulates that “any player having the right to acquire a second nationality at birth to lay claim to this right before reaching the age of 16.”

“Last year, when worked with the 18-and under boys groups but more or else, those kids were already identified and known because they were already playing in the top high school leagues and had made names for themselves,” bared camp director Eric Altamirano. “If we go to the lower age groups, we know almost next to nothing. Starting the elite training at a younger age will help fast track their skills.”

Australian coach Rob Beveridge is once more the camp director and the former head coach of the Boomers, as the national team is known affectionately, waxed excitedly about the new program.

“Once again, I am really excited about coming back to the Philippines,” said Beveridge. “Last year’s camp was very challenging and we identified some very good players for the future. This year, I look forward to working with a younger group of athletes and to really hone their individual fundamentals as well as teaching team concepts.”

The cagers were selected from three regional camps held at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo De Cebu for the Visayas; Xavier University in Cagayan De Oro for Mindanao; and the University of the Assumption San Fernando, Pampanga, and Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Calamba, Laguna for north and south Luzon, respectively. The selection committee was composed of coaches Altamirano, Chris Gavina, Britt Reroma, Paolo Hubalde, Beaujing Acot and Ato Badolato.

“If you look at the other countries, many of them start the development of their young talent at an early age,” added Batang Gilas program head Josh Reyes. “This will allow us to catch up to them. And find young talent who will be earmarked for the national team.”

“The EDC program is designed to give others a chance to be seen when they otherwise will not be noticed,” noted Antonio. “We just have so much talent all over the country.”

Beveridge, for his part, has coached in his native Australia as well as the Chinese Basketball Association. He also served as a consultant during National University’s UAAP Men’s Basketball Championship title run in 2014 and with the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association.

“I believe that Filipino basketball players are among the most talented,” said Beveridge. “Their capacity to learn is incredible. If we can really start them out early with good knowledge of the game this will serve them well as they proceed to the next higher level.”