JSOTF-P personnel join NBA, NCAA coaches for youth basketball clinic

By Lieutenant Lara Bollinger
Joint Special Operations Task Force – Philippines

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kenneth Spry, from Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines, coaches participants of youth groups from local high school basketball teams at a basketball clinic in Zamboanga City July 29. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class William H. Ramsey/Released)

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines -- Three renowned U.S. basketball coaches and three service members from the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines came together with 200 local youths for a unique basketball clinic at the city coliseum in Zamboanga July 29.

Erik Spoelstra, head coach of the Miami Heat, David Fizdale, Miami Heat assistant coach, and Sue Wicks, assistant coach of St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York, and a former WNBA player were in town as part of an outreach program called SportsUnited, sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and the Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs..

JSOTF-P participants were Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kenneth Spry, and Marine Lance Cpls. Angel Jimenez and Loren Miller.

“The camp was a great experience for the kids. Having the NBA come out and teach the fundamentals of the game and give advice on how to improve their playing skills will definitely have an impact on their development,” Spry said.

This goal of the basketball clinic and SportsUnited as a whole is to use sports to bridge cultural gaps and promote understanding across regions, races and religions. Participants in the Zamboanga clinic included Christians and Muslims representing men’s and women’s basketball teams from public and private high schools and colleges.

The clinic was sponsored jointly in partnership with the Office of Zamboanga Congresswoman Beng Climaco, and Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kenneth Spry and Marine Lance Cpls. Angel Jimenez and Loren Miller, from Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines, assisted in coaching over 200 youth from local high school and college basketball teams in Zamboanga City July 29. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class William H. Ramsey/Released)