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By Robert Balajadia
First year coach Brent Tipton hopes to do Guam proud in his highest level of coaching. (GSPN photo)
Guam’s best female ballers are getting ready to give a strong showing in the 2013 VI East Asian Games which are set to go down early October in Tianjin, China. First time head coach Brent Tipton is no stranger to national coaching, having coached the U18 boys team, but the East Asian Games will be Tipton’s biggest challenge yet.
“The more that I coach, the more I understand I don’t know,” stated Tipton who is focused on making sure he is coaching correctly. “You’ve got to make sure that you’re teaching these girls with a reason behind why they’re doing something.”
The girls have gotten past the conditioning portion and are slowly picking up a new offense. Tipton has noticed that the girls have been performing in practice with more energy and higher levels of intensity and competitiveness. Tipton and the girls are both excited and nervous for the games, but the only pressure they feel is making sure they are proving they are the best basketball Guam has to offer.
Teams Participating:
- China
- Chinese Taipei
- Guam
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- North Korea
- South Korea
- Macau
- Mongolia
Jocelyn Pardilla is arguably Guam’s best female baller and she has developed a strong bond with the other ladies on the team which can only constitute well. Pardilla also sees that the team is progressing well in learning the new offense.
Jocelyn Pardilla and sister Emily going at each other while learning the new offense. (GSPN photo)
“You can see each player and the team as a whole improve. With all the other things we’re doing outside of basketball, we’re also building chemistry on a different level which will help with our communicating with each other,” stated Pardilla.
Size may be a factor in the East Asian Games, as in all sports when competing internationally, but center Kristina French will do her best to hold down the front lines.
“In being one of the tallest players I need to make sure they know how it feels to play against a post player,” commented French, who will also be relied upon as the vocal leader of the team, as taught by basketball veteran coach Tony Thompson.
“Being a vocal leader comes from growing up with a lot of the senior members from past teams, we had to be vocal. [Thompson] has always asked and looked for that vocal leadership so that is something that I feel I have to exceed and set an example for everyone else. If they see a veteran player push hard, they will do the same.”
If one thing is for sure as the East Asian Games vastly approach, Guam is basketball ready.
PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
Brianna Benito taking a midrange jump shot in the teams shooting drills. (GSPN photo)
Coach Tipton giving instructions during practice while Chachie Aquino dishes the ball off. (GSPN photo)
Girls line up on the sideline and wait for instructions. (GSPN photo)
Kat Castro and the girls cooling off with after practice stretches. (GSPN photo)
MISSION TIANJIN:
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