Pinoy youths bound for Nike Camp

Six young, talented Filipino cagers were lucky to be picked as the country’s representatives to the Nike All-Asia Camp 02 set June 10-17 in Beijing, China.

Three players from San Beda, two from Ateneo and one from Xavier compose the RP delegation which joins equally promising cagers from China, Taiwan and Korea as they undergo clinic under top-notch American, Chinese and Taiwanese coaches.

The Filipino players are Michael Vincent Baldos, John Conde Villamor and Joseph Evans Casio of San Beda, Jonathan Uichico and Ken Joseph Barracoso of Ateneo, and Rejan Lee of Xavier. Jonathan is son of national coach Joseph Uichico.

Top local coaches Yeng Guiao, Ato Badolato and Tany Gonzalez were among those who chose the six players after conducting a tryout last May 14 at the Ateneo gym. The tryout was by invitation with the coaches giving preference to height and talent.

To be headed by Nike Philippines top official Auty Villarama, the RP delegation leaves Manila Monday, attending the inaugural Nike-sponsored camp which aims to become a searching ground for future basketball talents in the region.

"This thing is conceptualized by Nike China with the idea of hopefully producing basketball stars at a young age level," said Villarama.

The camp is open to players 16 years old and below. Uichico, Barracoso and Baldos are 16 while Lee, Villamor and Casio are 15.

Aside from the opportunity to know the finer points of the game from top-notch coaches, the players also get the chance to mingle with NBA players Steve Nash, Terrell Brandon and Wang Zhizhi in the camp. Also gracing the event is the Chinese national team now in deep preparation for the coming World Basketball Championship in Indianapolis.

At the end of the lectures and demostrations, the campers will be divided into six teams, competing in a brief tournament. - Nelson Beltran