Compton launches Nike cage camp

Looking to contribute to the country’s quest to regain its lofty standing in the Asian basketball scene, Philippine Basketball League star Alex Compton and his peers have launched the Nike Elite Basketball Camp, a unique grassroots development program for high school level cagers.

Under the program, 80 high school basketball players from Metro Manila aged 14 to 16 will get the chance to further hone their skills in an all-expense paid, six-day cage camp starting April 7 at Brent Mamplasan in Laguna.

Chosen from a field of 300 aspirants by a group of professional players, trainers and coaches led by Ato Badolato, the 80 cagers will be housed for six days at Brent School where they can interact with teachers and fellow players. To ensure all players will get personalized training, one trainer will be assigned to every five camp participants.

"I’ve read the country’s history. The Philippines was the best in Asia for a long time. We’d like to help bring back those glory days," said Compton, the camp’s project director, in a press briefing yesterday at the Wasabi Bistro and Bar in Makati.

"I benefited from good coaching, starting when I was seven. Now we are bringing the same kind of program here. Excited ako kasi matutulungan namin ‘yung mga bata na ma-improve yung game nila," added Compton, an American citizen who grew up in the Philippines.

Compton and Badolato will work with several other top trainers and players including NBA veteran David Wood, Coach E basketball camp founder Eric Altamirano and former PBA star Ronnie Magsanoc in the day activities.

Evening sessions will feature Alaska coach Tim Cone and Kirk Collier, among others.

Compton said the players, led by La Salle Zobel’s David Webb and Thomas Ian Babilonia of San Beda-Taytay, will get to mingle with the pros for six straight days, adding players like Rob Johnson, BJ Manalo, Dennis Madrid and Joel Co will share rooms with the camp participants, giving them a chance to share thoughts while outside the playing areas. Webb is the grandson of former PBA player and Sen. Freddie Webb while Babilonia is the son of former PBA center Guido Babilonia.

The top 20 participants will play on April 12 in an All-Star game to be shown live on Studio 23. Three players will also be chosen to attend the Nike All-Asia Camp in China in June to be attended by top coaches like Phil Jackson of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Compton said he is confident the camp will grow and eventually be able to accommodate more aspiring players from across the country.

"We’re just starting and there are logistical issues. But with the help of our friends and sponsors we should be able to reach other areas in the country.

"Basta gusto mong matuto, puwede kang makasali sa Elite Basketball Camp. Kahit sa Batanes ka pa galing o kahit sa Tawi-Tawi," Compton said.

The Elite Basketball Camp is a program of the

International Basketball Academy. Other programs under the IBA are the Coach E Basketball School, Academy for Coaching Excellence and School of Advance Refereeing.