Valenzona opens Big Men's Camp
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 01 Nov 2015
The lack of tall, big men that has been the bane of national teams in the past international campaigns is hoped to end soon.
Olympian Arturo Valenzona, through a foundation named after him as well as friends in basketball, is starting a year-round search for big men on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Paraiso Ng Batang Maynila covered court opposite the Manila Zoo along Adriatico St. in Ermita.
More than 200 kids, mostly from the Big City aged 8-18, are expected to attend the clinic called the "Big Men's Camp" for free, to be held initially every Saturday and Sunday during school days then daily on summer break.
"Actually, he project is a basketball clinic for grassroots level for kids, pero magkakaroon ng special concentration in seach of tall boys which we hope to develop to play for college, then to the pro-rank para maging career nila eventually," Valenzona, a former player and one of only two Filipino coaches to handle teams in the collegiate, commercial and pro-levels, said.
"And, ang pinaka-importante ay makakita tayo ng talents na made-develop para sa national teams para hindi na tayo mag-import pa ng players hindi naman nain mapakinabangan ng husto," Valenzona, the former San Sebastian College coach to win a five-peat in the NCAA, said.
"The coming of such big men as Jerry Codinera, Alvin Patrimonio, Benjie Paras, then lately, June Mar Fajardo and Greg Slaughter are proof na hindi tayo kulang sa matataas na bata,"
Valenzona, who besides helping the Far Eastern U Tamaraws to four UAAP championships as a player, guided also his alma mater to a couple title conquests as a mentor, explained.
"Kailangan lang ay hanapin natin ang mga ito at isa sa paraan par natin sila makita ay through grassroot talent-search, " Valenzona , who is also credited to handing then Tanduay to three PBA title victories from 1986 to 1987, noted.
"This is the reason, why we are offering the camp for free para mas maraming bata and maka-avail ng serbisyo. Marami nga tayong existing clinics nayon, pero mahl ang bayad na hindi ma-afford ng mas maraming mahihirap na bata," Valenzona remarked.
The member of the Philippine team to the 1964 Olympic Games announced that those interested can call telephone numbers 0916 443 6100, 0929 214 8234, 0922 461 6503 or landline 53 7418 to register.
Applicants can also get in touch with all the Barangay chairmen in their respective areas.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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