Sporting Chance

Once again, the Nike bandwagon rolls along as the sports apparel and footwear company teams up with GrandSlam Sports to stage a twin basketball camp at the RFM Sports Center in Mandaluyong on April 3-7 and 10-12.

The first camp takes a sharp look at players in the 10-16 age bracket. That's called the Generation Camp. It's for young kids looking to develop their game from the physical and mental standpoints.

"Basketball is never limited to the basics and individual skills especially for the youth," said Auty Villarama, Nike Philippines Sports Marketing Manager. "Equally important is how they can cope with the challenges and pressures of the game. As their skills improve, they should develop emotionally and mentally as well. This is the vision of the Nike Generation Camp."

GrandSlam Sports head Nonnie Mediarito added that the age-group camp will focus on basic techniques, discipline, and physical and mental conditioning.

The first Generation Camp was held in 1995 at the Aquinas Gym in San Juan. Coaches who assisted in supervising the camp were Francis Rodriguez, Bong Go, Koy Banal, Danny Gavieres, Luke Dacula, Tanny Gonzales and Alfie Almario. Sharing their expertise with the youthful campers were stars Johnny Abarrientos, Noli Locsin, Bong Alvarez, Nelson Asaytono and Dennis Espino.

Mediarito recalled that among the 64 graduates of the first Generation Camp were Jojo Lastimosa's nephews, Boy Cabahug's brothers, and Joel Banal's two sons.

The other camp is open to aspiring players who stand at least six feet. It's called the Big Men's Camp, featuring the latest hoop techniques and training drills. Nike endorsers Alvin Patrimonio, Eric Menk, Danny Seigle, Olsen Racela, Jun Limpot, and Alex Compton will be around to give tips to the campers.

Villarama said Nike is tapping the services of several coaches for the twin camp this summer. In the roster are Eric Altamirano, Norman Black, Alfrancis Chua, Yeng Guiao, Louie Alas, Binky Favis, Junel Baculi, Leo Austria, Teddy Magno, and Robert Sison. The coaches come from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA), and Philippine Basketball League (PBL) ranks so there's no discrimination whatsoever.

The Big Men's Camp was launched in 1998 with coaches Chito Narvasa, Black, Altamirano, Frankie Lim and Ryan Gregorio. Patrimonio, Limpot, Racela, Jeffrey Cariaso, Andy Seigle and Espino showed up at the closing ceremonies to meet the campers.

The second Big Men's Camp last year brought back Altamirano and Black plus Chua and Alas. Patrimonio, Cariaso, Menk, Compton, Ali Peek, Nick Belasco, and Boybits Victoria participated as both players and coaches.

Mediarito said the 96 campers -- including NCAA Juniors standout six-foot Artemio (Toti) Almeda, Jose Rizal College's 6-3 Erickson Araman, Adamson's six-foot Raymund Cinco, 6-5 Philip Butel of Rizal Technological University, and 6-2 Ruel Pazziuagan, also of Rizal Technological -- were thrilled to the bones in learning directly from their favorite stars.

Almeda, 16, played on the San Beda squad that won the NCAA Juniors title last season. He was named to the NCAA Juniors Mythical Five and voted the Most Improved Player. He was the Most Valuable Player at the recent Nike 3-on-3 Regional Championships and went on a Nike-sponsored trip to the US late last year. A highlight of the trip was watching the Los Angeles Lakers play the Portland Trail Blazers in a National Basketball Association (NBA) regular season game at the Staples Center.

Araman, 21, saw action for the Heavy Bombers second place team in the NCAA Seniors last year. Cinco, 19, plays on Adamson's senior squad. Butel, 19, and Pazziuagan, 18, are Rizal Technological varsity stalwarts.

Nike and GrandSlam are currently firming up the list of campers for this summer's blockbuster gathering. You can't afford to miss this chance to learn from the stars. Contact GrandSlam Sports at 643-8282 and 643-7227 to find out where you can sign up. Slots are limited so you've got to act now.

Postscript. After a long wait, former New Project: Gintong Alay Executive Director Arturo (Bong) Ilagan was cleared of graft charges stemming from a 1988 case where he juggled funds to the tune of P35 Million without public bidding in renovating the Ninoy Aquino Stadium and Covered Court No. 2.

The Commission on Audit filed a case against Ilagan, Director for Finance Leifa Enciso, Chief Accountant Merlita Rodriguez, and Director for Administration Fred Corda on the grounds that they conspired to disburse public funds "through fraudulent costing of contracts . . . and unlawful diversion of public funds . . . to the damage and prejudice of the government."

But the Sandiganbayan ruled late last year that Ilagan and his associates did no wrong. It concluded that funds were diverted to complete another government project because of expediency. The adverted projects were later funded through an allocation approved by Budget Secretary Guillermo Carague.

Sandiganbayan Justice Minita Chico-Nazario said, "There is no manifestation of accused's evident bad faith or manifest partiality in the actuations complained of." Additionally, the astute Justice remarked that "Ilagan made a wise judgment in applying Section 1 (b) of Executive Order No. 301 . . . (providing) for exemption from public bidding of contracts for public services . . . which cannot be delayed without causing detriment to the public service."