Player na pang-NBA dito nagsasanay

Si Larry Turner, isang 6’11", 235-pound na center mula sa Tennessee State Tigers, ay kasalukuyang nagsasanay sa ilalim ni Kirk Collier, skills coach ng San Miguel Beer at Ginebra sa PBA.

Ang kanyang pakay: makapasok sa NBA.

Narito ang ilan sa mga naisulat tungkol kay Turner sa ESPN.com: "A talker, and a team leader on both ends ... Makes sure his team is on the same page defensively ... A fine big man to have watching your back, and a developing offensive player... With his shooting range, he should become a solid all-around threat ... remains an intense shot-blocker and a presence to be reckoned with... Also won the MVP at the prestigious 5-Star Instructional Camp in Pittsburgh."

Nang lumipat siya mula sa Oklahoma University, 6 points at 4 rebounds lamang ang kanyang naitala, kaya minabuti ng kanyang coach na kontakin ang dati niyang skills coach na si Collier upang turuan ang bata habang bakasyon sa Amerika.

"In college, he has to play the five (center) position. So I’m working on his back-to-the-basket skills: his sealing, his footwork, make him able to use both hands, pivoting, up-and-under, quick spin, those kinds of things," paliwanag ni Collie. "But if he makes it to the pros like the NBA — or even if he comes over here to play — he’s going to play a lot more four (power forward) or even a little bit of three (small forward). So he’s got to work on his face-up moves, too."

Inaasahang malayo ang mararating ng Tennessee State sa Ohio Valley Conference, kung maganda ang ipapakita ng masipag na si Turner, na halos kasinlaki ang katawan ng NBA All-Star na si Ben Wallace.

"My coach basically told me coach Kirk was the best," sabi ng palangiti na si Turner. "And now I know why. He knows basketball; he has a great understanding of the game, he’s very defined in the drills. So it’s going to work out fine."

Sa simula pa lamang, bilib na si Collier sa alaga niya.

"He doesn’t do a drill just to do it," sabi ni Collier, na dating trainer ng Red Bull. "He does a drill to get something out of it. I was elated to learn that he’s a quick learner, and that he has a high basketball IQ." 

Liban sa individual skills at polymetrics, sumasabay din si Turner sa mga malalaki ng San Miguel at Ginebra. 

"You have to have a culminating activity for your drills," paliwanag ni Collier. "You can drill, drill, drill, but you have to be able to apply that in a game. You can learn the drill, but you won’t have the confidence to do it in a game until you’ve done it against someone playing defense."

Bago siya pumunta rito, tatlong team na ang tumingin kay Turner. Kung gumanda ng husto ang laro niya, siguradong pag-aagawan ito. 

"I’ll be blessed just to make it into the NBA," sabi niya. "From there, we’ll see."

At pag natuloy ang pangarap niya, malalaman ng lahat na dito niya sa Pilipinas nakuha ang larong pang-NBA ang kalibre.

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Abangan ang programang The Basketball Show ngayong alas-dos ng hapon sa RPN 9.