Ex-NBA star coming for clinics

Two-time Olympian and former National Basketball Association (NBA) star Detlef Schrempf will conduct grassroots hoop clinics in Olongapo and Lipa on April 23-May 3 under a sports diplomacy program called "Understand the Game."

Schrempf, 40, was Dallas’ first round pick in the 1985 NBA draft and played 15 years in the majors, suiting up for the Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Seattle SuperSonics, and finally, the Portland Trail Blazers. The 6-10, 235-pound forward finished his pro career with a 14.1 scoring average and a lofty 40.4 percent clip from three-point range. A German native and now a US citizen, Schrempf was a two-time NBA sixth Man awardee and played in three All-Star Games.

Schrempf’s personal foundation received a grant from the US Department of State to undertake the program strictly for the Philippines. Corporate sponsors include Adidas, the NBA, People to People Sports Ambassadors and the United States Basketball Academy.

The objectives of the "Understand the Game" program are to promote basketball instruction, teach the techniques of basketball, communicate cultures, and build future leaders of basketball coaches to carry on the positive message of sports diplomacy.

During the trip, Schrempf will be the special guest at the Adidas Streetball Challenge in Manila.

Assisting Schrempf in the tour will be 5-10 guard Brooks Meek, a two-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-American who has played in Hong Kong, Japan, and Germany. Meek saw action in four years at Lewis and Clark College in Portland. One of his varsity teammates, ex-Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) center Jeff Flowers, is coordinating the clinic arrangements in Olongapo.

"The age range for the clinics is all inclusive," said Meek. "We want as many kids as we can fit, across as many age ranges and both women and men. We are limited by gym space, however. This is a grassroots campaign to help teach all kids, not just the elite."

Through the clinics, Schrempf said he hopes to establish ties with various local barangay organizations and make an impact on the whole community, not just the camp participants. "As a product of a sports exchange program, I know the direct impact sports can have in facilitating dialogue and cultural understanding," said Schrempf who left Germany to attend high school and college in the US. "We are truly honored to have this opportunity to visit the beautiful and diverse country of the Philippines."

Aside from Meek, others accompanying Schrempf in the trip are Lewis and Clark varsity coach Bob Gaillard, Filipino Mark Molina (who’s enrolled at the Warsaw Master’s In Business Administration program at the University of Oregon), Beth Babic of the Detlef Schrempf Foundation, three US collegiate players, and a still unnamed former NBA player.

"We realize that a lot of groups have come to do clinics in Manila and that basketball is already very popular," said Meek in an email to The Star. "However, our goal is grassroots. We want to get outside Manila and reach out to players and Filipinos who would not normally get the chance to work with an NBA player. As in America, not everyone can become a professional basketball player and not everyone gets the opportunity to take advantage of sports to make money but sports is an excellent way to be physically and mentally healthy. It also is a tool for developing dialogue on other issues and creates a common bond that enables cultural understanding."

Meek said Schrempf intends to bring the basketball clinics to southern Philippines next year and possibly, other countries.

Official games are not in the tour schedule, noted Meek. "But during the instruction camp, there is a 99 percent change that some type of scrimmage or interactive camp game will take place with the students and collegiate players," he added.

Schrempf’s foundation has raised over $3 million to improve the lives of poor Northwest American children’s lives. It is primarily a special events organization that generates funds from sporting events, celebrity dinners, gala auctions, speaking engagements, personal appearances and golf tournaments. Schrempf personally pays for the foundation’s administrative costs, leaving a substantial portion of its generated funds for distribution to charities.