MORE than 100 young hoopsters took part in a basketball clinic organised by Bravehearts basketball club at Rooty Hill Leisure Centre on Monday, February 8, 2016.
By JAIME K PIMENTEL
The clinic on basketball fundamentals such as dribbling and shooting was run by National Basketball League’s Sydney Kings power-forward Angus Brandt.
Bravehearts’ head coaches McGerry Alfonso and Erwyn Bolina said it was only the second time that the Kings conducted a basketball clinic in the western suburbs in more than 10 years.
“We made several unsuccessful requests to the Kings management to conduct a basketball clinic here,” Alfonso said.
“It was only after we asked Miko Selorio, who has a close association with the Kings, to make representations for us that we finally succeeded in making this clinic happen.”
Bolina said that the youngsters, aged between 8 and 14 years, were delighted to train under the charismatic Brandt, who even held a question time about his background and his love of the game at the end of the clinic.
“Brandt, an American now residing in Sydney’s western suburbs, said that when he heard about the Kings’ plan to conduct the clinic at Rooty Hill he immediately put his hand up,” he said.
“This Yank simply loves our west.”
Brandt was a great entertainer too. In short breaks, he would demonstrate his dunking prowess to delight of the kids who’d go: “Wow! Oooooh! Aaaah!”
The Bravehearts club, which comprises seven teams, opened the clinic to outsiders.
The dribbling and a variety of shooting exercises ran for about 90 minutes, with four Bravehearts coaches assisting Brandt around the stadium.
The Kings’ provided Brandt’s service pro bono.
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PICTURE:
Sydney Kings’ power forward Angus Brandt is ‘king of the kids’ at Bravehearts’ basketball clinic at Rooty Hill Leisure Centre basketball stadium. Photo; MARILIE BOMEDIANO
