Sixty of the top 16 year olds in the country were gathered inside the Colegio de San Agustin Gym in Makati City for the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) Elite 60 Camp. The four-day camp was an experience like never before for the young high school prospects as they were able to interact with their peers, train under the brightest minds in basketball, and learn from one another.
Saturday night and Sunday morning, the kids were able to showcase what they learned from the camp as they played in the championship game and the all-star event. And one of the esteemed guests of the games was Batang Gilas assistant coach Josh Reyes.
In line with the vision of Elite 60 to identify players for the Batang Gilas pool for the upcoming 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup this July, Reyes, together with coaches Eric Altamirano, Rob Beveridge, and the rest of the trainers, invited three of the campers to the National Team: Steve Nash Enriquez of University of Visayas, Harold Alarcon of Tay Tung High School Bacolod, and Royce Mantua of Australia.
“It’s a good sign and a good step towards the future development ng mga players natin. Malaking impact yun,” expressed NBTC Assistant Program Director Anton Altamirano. “We’re doing something right when yung mga players na nandito sa camp, get a call up to be invited sa Batang Gilas.
“Yun naman talaga ang goal dito is to give them an opportunity to represent our country.”
Enriquez, a 5-foot-7 floor general, turned heads during the four-day event as he showcased his playmaking skills during the games. Cool and collected, he was also able to lift the Black Team All-Stars during the All-Star Game by knocking down the go-ahead bucket with one minute left in the game.
“Yung talent niya, yung play all throughout the camp, talagang standout eh.
“He displayed talaga yung mga qualities ng mga guard. He reminds me a lot of how Terrence Romeo plays. Kahit nung before the camp, nakita ko sa Cebu, laki ng potential ng bata,” Altamirano remarked about the young 15-year-old.
Alarcon, on the other hand, is a proven scorer — scoring 51 points during an NBTC-sanctioned game back in February. But what the coaches liked about the 6-foot-1 shooting guard was how he had a knack to step up in big games.
“We all know he could score but what he showed during the camp was how he could also take charge,” Altamirano shared about the Bacolod-native. “He was gun-shy during the first day but as the tournament progressed, he was able to spread his wings.
“He took over during the championship game and was named as the tournament MVP because of it.”
Last but not the least is Fil-Aussie Mantua. Mantua, who turned 16 last month, is the prototype of a 3-and-D player as he is a threat and both ends.
“I was talking to coach Josh Reyes last night, yun ang some of the players na gusto nila. Long, agile, players who can defend and guard. Tapos ang tangkad pa, mga 6-foot-2, 6-foot-3 pa mga height niya so malaki ang potential,” Altamirano said about the combo guard.
“Ang laki ng potential niya to grow and get better.”
Enriquez, who was also given a chance to train in US-based camp Globalsquad, could not hide his excitement after the announcement. For him, it’s a chance to live the dreams of his father and grandfather.
“Napakasaya kasi dream ko yun e. Kahit nung bata ako, inaasam ko talaga na makapaglaro ako sa Gilas,” Enriquez gushed.
“Willing ako mag-stay dito sa Manila para dun.”
