Narvasa tapped for Schrempf search

Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines (BCAP) president Chito Narvasa said yesterday he will coordinate the search for two young and aspiring Filipino coaches to intern at the United States Basketball Academy (USBA) for a month in Oregon this July under the auspices of the Detlef Schrempf Foundation and the Adidas "Understand the Game" program.

Narvasa was tapped by Schrempf, a former National Basketball Association (NBA) star, to circulate the internship forms to qualified coaches. Schrempf will choose four finalists from the applicants and interview them face to face during his trip here on April 23-May 2. The two choices will be named on June 1.

Narvasa, who coached Purefoods and Shell in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), will accompany the two to the US. The internship begins July 18.

Narvasa said applicants for the internship may contact Pita Dobles or Marty Narvasa of the AYN Sports Management Group in the Philippine Stock Exchange Center, 2904-A West Tower, Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, at Tel. 687-2156 to 58. Applicants may also log on to Schrempf’s website www.detlef.com to signify their intent.

"The Adidas ‘Understand the Game’ program wants as many coaches across diverse backgrounds to have the opportunity to apply," said project director Brooks Meek who will join Schrempf in the Philippine trip. "Particularly, we would like to receive applicants from southern Philippines. I believe there are many synergies between what your organization (AYN) is trying to accomplish and what Detlef and our group are trying to accomplish. I am hoping we can work together and build a strong relationship."

Narvasa told The Star the AYN Group, which he heads, will also assist in promoting the Adidas "Understand the Game" program.

"We at AYN are excited to participate in Mr. Schrempf’s program whose objectives are to promote basketball instruction, teach the techniques of basketball, communicate cultures, and build future leaders of basketball coaches to carry on the positive message of sports diplomacy," said Narvasa. "We share in Mr. Schrempf’s vision of promoting a healthy understanding of people through sports. It is only in sports that you can teach core values without getting into any arguments. We want to show that we can have unity through sports."

Schrempf will conduct basketball clinics in Olongapo and Lipa during his visit. He will be accompanied by Lewis and Clark College varsity coach Bob Gaillard, former Ateneo coach Mark Molina (who’s enrolled at the Warsaw Master’s in Business Administration program at the University of Oregon), Beth Babic of the Detlef Schrempf Foundation, three US collegiate players, a still unnamed NBA player, and Meek.

Narvasa said he has written Meek on possible topics for the coaching clinic that Gaillard will conduct.

"My suggested topics are sports medicine–preventing injuries,