INQUIRER Sports

THE National Basketball Association (NBA) continues to be a dream for Filipino dribblers, but three stars of the world?s most popular basketball league believe it?s just a matter of hard work for that to become a reality.

Boston superstars Paul Pierce and Ray Allen say that working the fundamentals will be the ticket for Asians like the Filipinos to get into the NBA, while Golden State dynamo Monta Ellis preaches the same thing Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has been preaching while polishing off opponents in different weight classes: Speed kills.

?I?m going to tell you an ability that I think most players don?t have but is the most important for young players. That?s speed,? the diminutive Ellis said in an interview e-mailed to the Inquirer through NBA Asia.

?That?s it. I mean, that?s how I stand out from other guys?speed.?

Apart from speed, those not blessed with the height to become an NBA prospect can work on their outside shooting, said Allen, who gave a few tips on how to improve one?s perimeter touch. He said kids should have a balanced posture, keep their toes pointed to the basket, keep the elbow tucked and have a balanced follow through.

?I always watch a shooter?s follow through,? said Allen, one of the NBA?s top-notch three-point artists. ?After you shoot, you should be slightly ahead of where you started, on both feet still pointed to the basket with weight balanced, shooting hand extended and off-hand pointed to the hoop. I see some kids finishing on one foot, or ending up backwards; these are all compensations for bad balance and lack of strength.?

Pierce, who was recently named to his eighth All-Star appearance, also said youngsters should develop more substance than mere flair.

?Continue to work on the fundamentals,? Pierce said. ?A lot of things I work on is a lot of dribbling up and down the court, right hand, left hand, keeping my head up. Just I think once you master the fundamentals then you can add more things to your game to make yourself more versatile.?

Consistently working on a particular skill helps players improve in that particular area. As Los Angeles Lakers main man Kobe Bryant said during his visit to the Philippines last year, repetition is the key. And Allen agreed on that when it comes to working on one?s perimeter game.

?You have to work on shooting shots that you?re going to shoot in the game,? said the veteran shooting guard. ?You have to do it over and over again, you gotta do it before you play, you gotta do it after you play, you gotta do it when you?re tired, because you?re going to be tired in the game when you take those shots, and you gotta be ready to make them.?