Future Big Men Of Philippine Basketball

[Metta]

Sir Mets,
I’ve heard several times that water story of the Greater Pampanga(urban legend for now) from the stories of some old folks since I was a kid, but the more realistic story that are more substantial is the fact that people at that part of Luzon including Bulacan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Ilocandia are the melting pots of different nations from the Chinese, Japanese, Indians who somehow married the locals and settled there then came the western colonizers from Spain, Britain, Germans, Dutch and lastly the Americans. Those conquistadores was assembled/composed by a large number of hot blooded foot soldiers and it’s a war, everything goes, it’s free for all and every man for themselves with many mixed natives all around during those heydays even though it’s not fully detailed in our history books, we are not hypocrite on many things.

But overall, the strong DNA of the diminutive/short Malay tribes are really kicking in the bloodline of majority of the modern day Filipinos thus only a handful of Filipino lineage benefits the vertical attributes of the western and those are the Pangasinenses, kapampangans and Manilenyos(but unfortunately majority of them was obliterated when the Americans bombarded Manila during WW II)

You're right, Pampanga being an ancient city (in Philippine terms) might have something to do with it. Different races definitely have been in contact with Kapampangans for centuries now. Similar to Cebu, who is the other area that has been producing very tall prospects.

Another factor is also our relatively increasing prosperity. Just like other countries that economically grow, the height of the citizens also grow. The dutch average height used to be 5'5" (just like Philippines currently) in the mid-1850s and grew up to over 6'. It's a combination of better nutrition, healthcare and quality of life.

In the last decade, we've regularly been having kids 6'7+ which used to be so rare in decades past. And it only looks like it's increasing.

Now we just have to improve on the early training and development part.

[BJ_Reloaded]

You're right, Pampanga being an ancient city (in Philippine terms) might have something to do with it. Different races definitely have been in contact with Kapampangans for centuries now. Similar to Cebu, who is the other area that has been producing very tall prospects.

Another factor is also our relatively increasing prosperity. Just like other countries that economically grow, the height of the citizens also grow. The dutch average height used to be 5'5" (just like Philippines currently) in the mid-1850s and grew up to over 6'. It's a combination of better nutrition, healthcare and quality of life.

In the last decade, we've regularly been having kids 6'7+ which used to be so rare in decades past. And it only looks like it's increasing.

Now we just have to improve on the early training and development part.

Sir Mets,

Speaking of Cebu and it's adjacent province of Bohol, Iloilo, Samar and including Butuan in Mindanao they are considered also as ancient city considered as the melting pot as well,(Chinese, Japanese, Indians)

We all know in the old documents and as per historians, those hot blooded Spanish conquistadores foot soldiers/seamen of Mang Ferdie had the adventures of their lives upon seeing how beautiful our Visayan ancestors despite living and sweating in the hot and humid tropical country that triggers the anger of the Datus and the Sultans because of the Ninja/Hokage moves of those tall/light skinned visitors and the rest is history. Fast forward, Cebuanas, Butuanons and Kapampangans women is a knock-out IMHO.

anyway, I really do hope the new Executive Director and her newly establish(?) team may come up a genuine program for our children, as you said there's a lot of kids out there who already had the vertical attributes that needs to be develop and polish

[crush]

Anyone can fact check this?

https://www.facebook.com/erwintulforeal/posts/pfbid034fQghhmnWfcjME1M98EtaZ6ozDjKKkKYfA2DrS9M29t 8SoG3KnXGtgNbduU2pvKql

CHOLO EVANGELISTA,
6'3, 11 years old, 6th grade

[tootch]

Anyone can fact check this?

https://www.facebook.com/erwintulforeal/posts/pfbid034fQghhmnWfcjME1M98EtaZ6ozDjKKkKYfA2DrS9M29t 8SoG3KnXGtgNbduU2pvKql

CHOLO EVANGELISTA,
6'3, 11 years old, 6th grade

This one.. man, among kids...lol

FB_IMG_1710826637720.jpg

[ARMIR]

This one.. man, among kids...lol

FB_IMG_1710826637720.jpg

If he grows normally we're looking at 6'8-6'9.

[Metta]

"A picture paints a thousand words."

Aside from the obvious where he towers over everyone else...this picture tells you that his freethrow stance is bad and that he has a hundred pounds and about 2 feet over everyone. This is the recipe for developing a typical pinoy big.

Now, if we want to develop him into an international player, he needs to stop playing these type of games.

If his ballhandling is poor, he needs to take care of that first. At 11 years old, about 3-4 months of proper/concentrated training will get him to a level of ballhandling that will be better than most of his peers. Making him do Mikan drills at this age will also go a long way in terms of enabling him to finish with either hand. Once his dribbling is good enough, layup drills going both ways and different foot work. Then shooting drills.

He shouldn't even be playing if that will be his competition level, he will only develop bad habits and stagnate. Train him a few months until his dribbling is good, and then let him play up against kids closer to his size and strength. Don't pigeonhole him into being a big and let him use skills instead of size.

Then integrate athleticism training like footspeed drills and plyometrics.

[tootch]

"A picture paints a thousand words."

Aside from the obvious where he towers over everyone else...this picture tells you that his freethrow stance is bad and that he has a hundred pounds and about 2 feet over everyone. This is the recipe for developing a typical pinoy big.

Now, if we want to develop him into an international player, he needs to stop playing these type of games.

If his ballhandling is poor, he needs to take care of that first. At 11 years old, about 3-4 months of proper/concentrated training will get him to a level of ballhandling that will be better than most of his peers. Making him do Mikan drills at this age will also go a long way in terms of enabling him to finish with either hand. Once his dribbling is good enough, layup drills going both ways and different foot work. Then shooting drills.

He shouldn't even be playing if that will be his competition level, he will only develop bad habits and stagnate. Train him a few months until his dribbling is good, and then let him play up against kids closer to his size and strength. Don't pigeonhole him into being a big and let him use skills instead of size.

Then integrate athleticism training like footspeed drills and plyometrics.

Relaxxxx. let him feel the game first and enjoy as a kid. for sure his parents knows that. He's only 11 y/o.

[Metta]

Relaxxxx. let him feel the game first and enjoy as a kid. for sure his parents knows that. He's only 11 y/o.

Yes, the parents can do whatever they feel is best for their child.

What I illustrated is what it takes to be world-level. It is not much different than how child musical prodigies are trained at a young age, child geniuses are put in higher grades, etc. In life there are always choices. To become elite takes sacrifices.

We keep complaining why we don't produce any D1 players, well newsflash for casuals, starting at 11 and younger is par for the course. There is a proper way of doing this, and then there is an over-the-top way of doing things. Make sure the kid still has fun at the same time.

And I'm speaking from experience seeing actual youth players from around 10 years old make it all the way to D1.

[Sikatrix]

Yes, the parents can do whatever they feel is best for their child.

What I illustrated is what it takes to be world-level. It is not much different than how child musical prodigies are trained at a young age, child geniuses are put in higher grades, etc. In life there are always choices. To become elite takes sacrifices.

We keep complaining why we don't produce any D1 players, well newsflash for casuals, starting at 11 and younger is par for the course. There is a proper way of doing this, and then there is an over-the-top way of doing things. Make sure the kid still has fun at the same time.

And I'm speaking from experience seeing actual youth players from around 10 years old make it all the way to D1.

This is actually against what the NBA recommends. Basically play multiple sports until 14 since learning multiple skills helps.

https://youthguidelines.nba.com/

[Metta]

This is actually against what the NBA recommends. Basically play multiple sports until 14 since learning multiple skills helps.

https://youthguidelines.nba.com/

They recommend it, but they know that 99% of their players started playing basketball really early. Doncic was a pro at 14.

Anyway, I also advocate for multiple sports early, I've written about it in detail multiple times now so I would not put it here anymore.

The key of what I'm advocating for is...play sports really early. It doesn't even have to be sports, it can be martial arts, dancing, or whatever. Have kids moving really early, that way their bodies and their brain gets optimally prepared for future movements. Use it or lose it, that's why we have so many stiffs.

[Metta]

For those who don't know, most of our juniors players (especially those who grew up in Metro Manila) played in SBP (Small Basketeers). That league is for 9-11 year olds.

The best ones enter that already knowing how to play. That is the usual trajectory of elite players...from SBP, to Pasarelle then to Juniors.

Everyone in the basketball world knows playing at this age range is par for the course.

[Sikatrix]

For those who don't know, most of our juniors players (especially those who grew up in Metro Manila) played in SBP (Small Basketeers). That league is for 9-11 year olds.

The best ones enter that already knowing how to play. That is the usual trajectory of elite players...from SBP, to Pasarelle then to Juniors.

Everyone in the basketball world knows playing at this age range is par for the course.

Our system isnt the greatest. Playing more sports and not focusing on basketball could be something that helps.

[Metta]

Our system isnt the greatest. Playing more sports and not focusing on basketball could be something that helps.

And one of the worst things about our system (and overall culture) is people keep doing the same thing and at the same time expect better results. Then whine when results are bad as always.

Paying attention to how the best became the best is a such an obvious no brainer. Becoming world elite means taking sacrifices and overcoming difficulties. That is part of why you become great.

[onggok]

And one of the worst things about our system (and overall culture) is people keep doing the same thing and at the same time expect better results. Then whine when results are bad as always.

Paying attention to how the best became the best is a such an obvious no brainer. Becoming world elite means taking sacrifices and overcoming difficulties. That is part of why you become great.

I agree 100% with you METTA...start them early so the potential won't be wasted. At the early age you have to teach them the proper footwork and fundamental of the basketball and muscles memory is very important to.✌️

[Metta]

I agree 100% with you METTA...start them early so the potential won't be wasted. At the early age you have to teach them the proper footwork and fundamental of the basketball and muscles memory is very important to.✌️

It seems you're from Pampanga. That region has been producing very tall players some of whom are skilled. It's all about early training.

If conditions in our country was the best, we would have multiple sports available for young kids. In the US for example, most kids start playing soccer or baseball/softball at around 6. They play for fun and for social purposes. At the same time, like you said, it develops muscle memory. Also agility, reflex, etc.

It's like learning a language, the younger you teach a kid the easier. It's because kids' brains are still developing.

It's the same with sports/movement.

Then there are skills that is very important to learn early (pre-10). Skills like dribbling in basketball, hitting in baseball, "touch" in soccer...learning those skills late is difficult. It's best to teach this really early.