The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental and the Provincial Sports Office recently collaborated with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Inc. (SBP) to conduct a basketball training program dubbed the 2024 Abanse Negrense Basketball Elite Camp, held on June 5-6, at the Montalbo Covered Court.
SBP Grassroots and Talent Identification Program Head and PBA Coach Norman Augustus Black spearheaded the 2-day Abanse Negrense Basketball Elite Camp, along with Ateneo Women’s Basketball Team Coach Raymond Leonard “Bacon” Austria, Ateneo Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach and Gilas Pilipinas Team Manager Coach Dean Caesar Castaño, and PBA Player Justin Shaun Chua.
According to Black, SBP’s main goal in conducting extensive and nationwide training programs, especially in the provinces, was to identify potential talents and provide them with opportunities to develop their skills.
Black also emphasized that SBP’s intention was not on recruitment, but how he can work with regional and provincial SBP directors to improve the training of the young athletes in basketball all over the country.
The 66-year-old former San Miguel Beermen and Meralco Bolts head coach added that in order to improve the grassroots development programs, coaching should also be developed at the same time. Hence, SBP’s training program also included a coaches’ seminar.
During the elite camp, 29 U-16 boys and 28 U-16 Girls participated in the combine training, which featured various drills such as standing reach test, strength and lane agility assessment tests, standing vertical leap, 2-step jump test, 20-m sprint, and field goals percentage (including 2-point and 3-point shooting percentages).
For the kids’ clinic, a total of 63 under-12 campers participated in the training, which included ball handling exercises, dribbling drills, and scrimmages.
A total of 31 coaches from Bacolod City and different local government units in the province participated in the Coaches’ Seminar, where they were taught basic game plans and team plays, as well as how to handle scrimmages and drills during training.
The 2024 Abanse Negrense Basketball Elite Camp was also made possible through the efforts of SBP Provincial Director and Provincial Sports Coordinator Anthony Carlo Agustin. It’s part of the Abanse Negrense Sports Programs led by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson that aims to promote sustainable sports development programs at the grassroots levels.*
