Throw Em Up at ICNHS

On the 4^th of November, the Big(Star)Bangs Philippines hosted its 1^st Basketball Clinic held at the Iligan City National High School – Tambacan Annex, Tambacan, Iligan City. It was a humid yet sunny day for the 1^st Basketball Clinic of Big Bangs Philippines Committee.

The Committee and its volunteer were so excited to do their first basketball clinic. It was a challenge for them to do this clinic because none of the Big Bangs Australia was around. It was all by them.

The ICNHS-Tambacan Annex is located at the heart of Barangay Tambacan. The school is a population of over 750 high school students from First Year to Fourth Year. The school is another building from the main campus of Iligan City National High School since the national high school is totally large and could not all cater the needs of the students so they decided to build an annex to be able to cater students who wants to go to school.

At around 8 o’clock in the morning, we arrived at the Tambacan Gymnasium where we held our basketball clinic. The high school students of ICNHS-Tambacan Annex were already there and gathered in one corner of the gym. Some of the boys were wearing basketball uniforms; they were so prepared for the clinic. The teachers especially the principal were stunned because they did not know that the Big Bangs Philippines were young people of twenties since we just communicate with them through text messaging and phone calls. Even though it was like that, they greeted and treated us with respect. This is one of the values we are proud of being a Filipino, being respectful and hospitable and that will never change.

Since the students and the teachers do not know anything about us, we had a little orientation about the Big Bang Ballers Organization. We gave them an overview on what Big Bangs is all about.

Back to the clinic, our plan was simple, to teach and let the students do some drills in basketball. It was not that hard since they were high school students and also basketball has been the all-time favorite sport in the city. Viane “Gang-gang” Lariosa, Johnrey Pagaling, Jeryd Baguio, Coach Teting Tate and Loden Sarita were enthusiastic to teach the students basic basketball techniques in dribbling, shooting, passing and defense. Viane took the lead in the clinic. We ran two-sessions for the students; one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. At first, the students were shy since our faces are new to them but because we share the same affection to the sport, we got their attention and participation in the drills.

Like what the Big Bangs Australia did in their previous visit here in Iligan City, we did the “Big bangs”, “Defence”, “D” chants. We did a group warm-up consists of stretching and the tunnel ball game. And then, we divided the students into three stations each with one Big Bang coach; one for the dribbling, the other for the shooting and the last for the passing. After they have done the three stations, they would gather all the students and then teach them the last drill which is the defensive stunts. The Big Bang coaches teach the each group with proper way of shooting, dribbling, passing and defense. In shooting, Loden Sarita taught the students the proper way of shooting, the drop, lock, lift and shoot technique of shooting. Also, in dribbling, Coach Teting taught the students how to dribble the ball. Passing, on the other hand, Viane, Johnrey and Jeryd taught the students on how to pass a ball; like how to do the chest pass, bounce pass and the overhead pass.

It was one terrific day of teaching students basic basketball stunts. It is also our one way of giving the students the opportunity to encourage them to be more active in sports especially basketball and to be able to give them the values of camaraderie and sportsmanship. Best of all, we see them smiled.

Big thanks to the faculty and staff of the ICNHS-Tambacan Annex for their support and also to the volunteers and members of Big Bangs Philippines for being able to teach the students their knowledge on playing basketball. And to the athletes especially the basketball varsity team of ICNHS-Tambacan Annex, remember that we will help you in any way that we can but do good well in school.

1-2-3….Big Bangs!

Mary Joan Abitago-Clavite and Herza Andres
Big Bangs Philippines