13 member strong Indian contingent at NBA’s Basketball without Borders camp in Australia
The NBA has tipped off its 15th edition of Basketball Without Borders Asia camp, in Dandenong today. In conjunction with the NBL and FIBA, Australia’s brightest basketball stars, along with legends of the game from around the world, came together to host the top young players from Asia. This includes three from India: Tamil Nadu shooting guard Baladhaneshwar Poiyamozhi who led the Indian U-18 side in the recently held FIBA Asia qualifying championship in Bangladesh, Aashay Verma is a 7-foot-2 center from Hyderabad and Sahil, who represents the state of Punjab. All the three were selected from various BWB camps conducted by the NBA-India across the country.
Baladhaneshwar Poiyamozhi (Tamil Nadu), Aashay Verma (Hyderabad) and Sahil (Punjab) at Basketball Without Borders - Asia 2016. Images shared with us via Kerala Basketball Association press release. No copyright infringement intended. Original image credit for the above pic: Jack Thomas.
Winny Bestine is the representative from Kerala at the camp. The Physical Education teacher of Little flower HSS Koratty was chosen as the Best Physical education Teacher, by the NBA, from the 220 Schools that took part in the Jr. NBA Programme last year. Winny who has produced International players such as Vimmy Varkey and Gineeb Benny, was selected along with the 10 other Indian coaches. The other coaches are from Mumbai, Delhi, Punjab, Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Lucknow and Hyderabad.
Winny Bestin - Physical Education teacher of Little Flower HSS Koratty
At this programme, the coaches will get the opportunity to learn and enhance their basketball training skills with the best coaches/trainers from around the world. Their selection was made on the basis of number of students they engaged, the number of basketball led classes they conducted and their overall involvement with the program.
BWB Asia brings together leading young male players born in 1999 from around the Asia-Pacific region, to learn directly from NBA and FIBA players, legends and coaches. The camp is not solely focused on improving skills on the court. Learning skills off the court are just as important. Improving young lives through basketball is key to the Basketball Without Borders experience. The camp, which will run all weekend and conclude in Geelong with the Game on Sunday, is sure to provide a great few days for the campers, players and coaches.
Australians Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Olympian Aron Baynes, Dante Exum, Andrew Gaze and Lauren Jackson are attending the four-day event, along with a host of NBL players. NBA legend David Robinson, swingman Bruce Bowen and Khris Middleton of the Bucks, are also here to pass on their knowledge of the game and inspire the next generation.
Jr. NBA teachers with former WNBA player Lauren Jackson - From L to R Praveen, Shakeel, Shafiullah, Parveen, Vikas, Ajay, Subhashish, Gajaana D, Winny and Anthony
It is also not just great players who are in attendance, but some of the best coaches from around the world are also helping out. Melbourne United Head Coach Dean Demopoulos, Boston Celtics Assistant Coach Jay Larranaga, and former NBA player and current Toronto Raptors Assistant Coach Jerry Stackhouse are all down under to help develop some of the young talent in Asia.
The following ten coaches/trainers are in Australia for this unique developmental programme:
Gajanan Gajaalwar from Tirandaz BMC School, Mumbai
Vikas Sharma from Queens Valley School, Delhi
Ajay Agnihotri from Sacred Heart, Punjab
Winny from Little Flower High School, Kerala
Safiyullam Abdulkareem from Chettinad Vidyashram, Chennai
Subhasish Pal from Delhi Public School Megacity, Kolkata
Antony Wallomkottu Ulamannan from New Horizon Public School, Bangalore
Parveen Rizvi from Motilal Nehru Girls Inter College, Lucknow
PraveenKumar Bavana from Oasis School of Excellence, Hyderabad
Mohammed Shakeel Mohammed Yunus Shaikh from St. Ann’s School, Ahmedabad