AMERICAN basketball skills coach Joe Abunassar has worked with some of the finest players in the world, including first time NBA All Stars DeMarcus Cousins and Kyle Lowry.
But coaching Filipino players certainly holds a special place in his heart.
Jimmy Alapag and Asi Taulava trained under Abunassar during the off season early in their PBA careers and have gone on to etch their names among the greats in the pro league.
It was in Abunassar’s basketball camp, Impact, in the United States where Ateneo and San Beda spent weeks during the summer to sharpen the skills that helped the Blue Eagles and the Red Lions to incredible title runs in the UAAP and NCAA, respectively, in recent years.
Needless to say, Abunassar, who is in Manila for a two-day clinic for players and coaches that ends today, loves working with Filipino players.
“Understandably there are physical limitations, but they (Filipinos) pay a lot more attention to detail compared to other Asian players I have worked with. They just love being better in the little things,” said Abunassar.
Ateneo star Kiefer Ravena has also left an imprint on Abunassar with the coach speaking highly of the reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player’s “competitiveness.”
Andrew Teh, who owns travel agency Global Link and concurrent SBP logistics head, is working closely with Abunassar to make the Impact camp in Las Vegas more accessible to more Filipino players. “We’ve created a package for players to join the camp in Las Vegas,” said Teh. “If you are just a basketball player who doesn’t have a team and who just wants to join the bigger leagues then you can avail of the package.”