LA Tenorio (with basketball) teaches a group of children the proper shooting form in yesterday’s TM Basketball Para Sa Bayan clinic at the Barangay Tinago Gym, Cebu City. (CDN PHOTO/CALVIN D. CORDOVA)
SOME 80 children got a chance to further hone their basketball skills when wily point guard LA Tenorio spearheaded the TM Basketball Para Sa Bayan clinic yesterday at the Barangay Tinago Gym in Cebu City.
Apart from the basketball clinic, which was handled by Tenorio’s Method, a three-on-three competition was also held where the winning team will get the chance to compete in the NBA 3X 10-12 category slated August 19-21 in Manila.
“The TM Basketball Para Sa Bayan clinic is part of the overall grassroots sports advocacy for Globe Telecom. We’re into basketball and football and our objective is to inspire as many children to get into sports,” said Fernando Esguerra, Globe Director for Corporate Social Responsibility.
Under the TM Football Para Sa Bayan program, winners will get the chance to train in Malaysia, revealed Esguerra.
“We are promoting sports because it builds character, it forms the children’s values and it gives them opportunity, added Esguerra.
The basketball clinic had its stops in Bulacan and Cavite. The next leg will be in Davao.
Tenorio said conducting basketball clinics is his way of giving back.
“I am proud doing this. I want to share the God-given talent especially to the less fortunate ones,” said Tenorio.
Tenorio said their mission is to discover talents and give them chance to play in the professional ranks or even in international competitions.
“We want to go down to the barangays. We want going to them and not them going to us just to learn even the basketball techniques,” said Tenorio, the veteran point guard of the Barangay Ginebra King in the PBA.
Tenorio said one thing he admired about aspiring Filipino basketball players is their determination to learn basketball.
“I’ve been to several countries, and I can really say that we are the most passionate when it comes to basketball,” said Tenorio.
Tenorio preaches having the right attitude for an aspiring athlete to succeed.
“In our clinics, we emphasize discipline. You have to be very disciplined. Basketball is not just about playing the game. Even in our personal life, we have to have discipline. We tell the children that if you cannot follow simple instructions, how much more the teachings of your parents,” said Tenorio.