Jefferson Codera (in front), leads young cagers in dribbling skills in the barangay Tabok gym. (CDN PHOTO/ NORMAN MENDOZA)
A US-based native of Mandaue City will conduct half-day basketball clinics at the Blessed John Seminary in Mabolo, Cebu City on April 20-24.
Jefferson Codera, 33, of barangay Tabok started work as a caregiver in New York three years ago. Today he owns a New York-based coaching agency “Power Play”. Each year, he returns to Cebu with wife and son to renew ties and share his love for basketball with local youths.
He was earlier discovered by an Amercian coach who saw him directing middle school boys and girls in a basketball game.
“Gitabangan ko sa akong friend nga black American nga mo-coach sa D-League kay maayo daw ko mo-coach kay maminaw nako ang mga estudyante (a black American friend helped me coach at the D-League because he said I waseffective in coaching. Students listened to me),” Codera said.
Reluctant at first because his exposure to basketball was limited, Codera applied for a license and eventually established a Filipino basketball training camp. Codera was the coach of the Golden States Training Camp for Kids.
Drills
He’s proud of being the personal coach of Andrian Zamora of the Mexican team that recently played in the Federation of International Basketball Association (FIBA).
He also handles two NBA D-League players ,Reggie Haern and Trey Bussey.
“Maybe one of the reasons they picked me is because I charge less and they like my drills,” Codera said.
He said he only charges $15 and his drills were safe enough to prevent players from incurring accidents during play. Codera said he already has about 700 drills.
Codera’s first basketball clinic outside the US was held in barangay Tabok, Mandaue City. His clinics were later joined by high school varsity players every summer.
A registration of P750 is charged for each player. Codera said he provides the tokens and awards from the US and a certificate from his training camp “Power Play.”
He also took part in basketball clinics in Lapu-Lapu city and other parts of Cebu.
His latest clinic was a four-day affair held at the barrangay Tabok gym that was attended by 20 basketball enthusiasts mostly from the Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT).