Cariaso, Gumabao share expertise, offcourt values

Philippine Basketball Association assistant coach Jeffrey Cariaso and volleyball star Michele Gumabao lent their expertise to more than 200 children in a recent series of Alaska Powercamp clinics.

Cariaso, currently the assistant coach of Alaska and PBA Rookie of the Year in 1995, was basketball camp director while Gumabao spearheaded the volleyball clinics held at Philippine Military Academy gym in Baguio for eight days.

Tomas Lozano also facilitated a week-long football clinic at nearby Benguet State University pitch.

“The Powercamp aimed to encourage them, push them and make them confident enough to venture out of their comfort zones,” said Gumabao, part of the La Salle team that ruled the UAAP from 2010 to 2013.

Currently the assistant coach of the Adamson women’s volleyball squad, Gumabao shared her expertise on attacking the net as well as instilling the values of discipline, hard work, team work and sportsmanship, traits that made her the Finals MVP in the 2012-2013 UAAP season.

“A lot of these kids are not into sports,” said the comely 24-year-old. “We really target those who don’t know how to play and those who are just starting out.”

Cariaso said developing offcourt values is as important as honing playing skills.

“We instill values in them because this is what real champions are made of,” said Cariaso, part of the Alaska team that completed a PBA Grand Slam in 1996.

The Alaska Powercamp lured 219 kids, including 24 girls, aged six to 18 years old.