FILIPINO players need to develop their quickness on the floor.
American skills coach Ganon Baker took note of this as a basketball camp he is facilitating for young Filipino players entered its second day.
“Players here can dribble. They can catch. They are under sized and they got to open up the floor a bit,” said Baker during a break in the camp at the Ronac Center in San Juan.
He made his observations after watching the game between Alaska Milk and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the PBA Commissioners Cup last Sunday.
Baker is getting help from local counterpart Eric Banes, as well as coaches Mon Jose and Aries Dimaunahan in the Manila camp.
He believes that Filipino players have the potential of being really fast with their game.
“They got to open the floor up. Run and press. Keeping it up tempo,” added Baker, who has seen the Gilas Pilipinas national team play in China a few months ago.
He was able to watch an understudy, Andray Blatche, who trained under him when he was younger.
“He was tough in high school. He wasn’t afraid. He attacks,” noted Baker.
Baker runs the high-performance Elev8 Sports Institute in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
But he also works with professional and collegiate teams.
Baker had the privilege of working closely with the likes of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Amar’e Stoudemire, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and Vince Carter.
