Nike to hold camp in RP

BEIJING – The Nike All-Asia Basketball Camp 02 will not close until Sunday but Nike Philippines sports marketing director Auty Villarama is convinced it is a good program that he is now looking forward to holding this in the Philippines before the year ends.

Villarama has asked the blessing of Nike basketball global director Goro Nakajima about his plan, and the Japanese executive has given his nod.

Nike All-Asia Camp 02 director Rich Sheubrooks said he’s open to bringing his team to the Philippines to conduct the clinic, giving more young talented Filipinos the opportunity to use the Nike facilities and draw the vast experience of selected coaches and staff to become better players.

The six Filipino players brought here by Nike Philippines were one in saying they’re learning a lot in the camp, not only about playing but the discipline and attitude towards the game.

Nike China sports marketing director Terry Rhoads, meanwhile, said Chinese coaches have identified new talents for their national youth and junior pools because of the camp featuring 47 top Chinese players from around the country.

Easily emerging as standouts in the camp are 6-foot-11 behemoth Yi Jian Lian, 15, from Guangdong, 6-foot-5 guard-forward Men Wei, 15, from Beijing and 6-foot-9 slotman Chen Da Wei, 16, also from Guangdong.

Incidentally, China maintains three national teams – the national men’s, the national juniors for 19 and below and national youth for 14-16.

At the moment, Villarama plans to gather 40 players nationwide, pitching camp possibly at the RFM Sports Center in Mandaluyong and billeting the players in a nearby hotel. Just like the Nike All-Asia Camp, everything will be at the expense of Nike.

Nike Philippines has been holding basketball clinics in the country for years now. But it’s open to anybody with a minimal fee with the camp, called Nike Hoopology, featuring three classes – beginners, intermediate and advance.

Among the Nike coaches are Yeng Guiao, Alfrancis Chua, Ryan Gregorio and Kirk Collier. If the Nike Philippine Camp pushes through, these Filipino coaches will be tapped to join Sheubrooks and his staff.

Nike has been holding camps in America and Europe for over 10 years now. Among the alumni of the All-America camps are Kevin Garnett, Jason Kidd, Jerry Stackhouse, Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Tim Duncan, Grant Hill and a lot more. The Euro Camps, meanwhile, have produced Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker and Chinese national players Wang Zhizhi, Yao Ming and Li Wei.