Launch of PH Basketball Clinic in New York Highlights Pinoy’s Love of Basketball
A couple of the coaches (standing in white and in red) giving final instructions before ending the 1st Basketball Clinic Session (New York PCG photo)
NEW YORK 15 May 2019 – What better way to engage with the Filipino-American community in the US Northeast Region than to appeal to the innate Pinoy exuberance towards basketball.
The Philippine basketball team, under the auspices of the Philippine Consulate General in New York held its maiden Philippine Basketball Clinic on 05 May 2019 at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Gym in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The team is composed of Consulate General officers and staff, their family members and friends, who have all volunteered to teach and share their technical knowledge of basketball. Record, Communications and Information Officer Ryan A. Compendio served as one of the coaches.
The bulk of the participants come from the New Jersey-New York area. A total of 40 participants composed of young players ranging from 3 to 14 years old, participated in the first day of the four-day clinic. The children’s parents, relatives, and friends were present to cheer them on as the children ran through basketball drills designed to improve footwork, passing, dribbling, and shooting ability.
The event is the result of the Consulate General’s recognition of the concept of a sound mind in a sound body, as well as its commitment to its sports diplomacy program.
The clinic instructs kids on the skills necessary to be better players. More than that, the program aims to teach players the right attitude to make it as team members, and that everyone has a role to play, even if it is only a small role, and in so doing, to perform that role to the best of their abilities. Sports teaches leadership, teamwork and camaraderie. It also teaches to be humble in victory, and accepting in defeat.
The basketball clinic was made possible through the support and help of PHL Basketball Team, the Jersey City Athletic Association, 360 Fitness, RGX Sportswear, Noodlefan, Team United, JCI New Jersey and the Pan American Concerned Citizens Action League.
The Basketball Clinic will run every Sunday of the month of May from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. END
Parents and family members showing their support for their young ones (Mark Cruz photo)
Participants, aged 10 - 12 yrs old, carrying out “ball handling drills” (Beverly Pellosis photo)
For more information, visit www.newyorkpcg.dfa.gov.ph, www.newyorkpcg.org or https://www.facebook.com/PHLinNY/.