RBA goes back to online drills

Kyna Margareth Sales performs the Phil Handy dribbling drills in this screenshot of her video workout. (CONTRIBTED PHOTO)

Rollers Basketball Association already knew what to do when Gov. Ralph DLG Torres suspended all school levels after three students tested positive for COVID-19 last Oct. 28.

RBA founder Joe Diaz quickly suggested to his coaches to cancel regular practices and replace them with dribbling drills their players can do by themselves online. The exercise are based on the dribbling drills program developed by Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy. RBA first implemented online dribbling drills when the CNMI had its first COVID-19 cases in March 2020.

Diaz said RBA coaches Jake Maratita and Matt Iguel (U9), David Apatang (U12), Mike Mercado (U14), and Marlene Lumabi (girls) all gave their thumbs up on his suggestion that they shift their training online through the dribbling skills program.

“I sent our kids this dribbling drills program and they did it at home and sent me their video workout after. We did this to help them stay motivated and positive as well as maintain their physical health and mental health. A lot of our kids if they don’t have anything to do they think negatively and become anxious.”

The dribbling skills consists of 45-minute sets that RBA players need to do every day, preferably before dinnertime.

“We encourage our younger age groups—U12 and U9—to spend more family time with their moms and dads. So, I asked our players to do it at a later time at 5:30pm,” he said.

RBA players appreciated that their practice routine didn’t take much of a hit despite the Koblerville Gymnasium—the home of RBA—being closed to adhere to COVID-19 protocols.

“I was happy to have something to do basketball-related over the suspension of our practices. I was able to go at my own learning pace and repeat the same drills for hours until I got it down and was more comfortable with the drill,” said Lana Sunderland, a 15-year-old student at Saipan Southern High School.

Andrea Ramos, also of SSHS, echoed Sunderland’s thoughts when the 16-year-old said, “I’m really glad that I was able to have some basketball drills to do while practice is suspended due to the recent community spread. Without it I think I would be struck with boredom.”

Lency Sagarino, another Lady Manta Ray, thanked Diaz and the coaches of RBA for coming up with dribbling skills.

Lency Sagarino, left, and Andrea Ramos perform the Phil Handy dribbling drills in this screenshot of their video workout. (CONTRIBTED PHOTO)

“I felt like my coaches took time to show us drills to improve on our skills. The drills are fun and doesn’t need much space to do, so I was able to do them at home. I would say the drills helped me get comfortable with handling the ball better,” said the 15-year-old.

Marianas High School’s Princess Jadeanne Cania said the dribbling skills kept her mind off the rise in COVID-19 cases in the community.

“I was pretty excited to be doing drills regardless of the situation we’re enduring at the moment. I’m grateful that our coaches are encouraging the players to keep grinding no matter the circumstance,” said the 16-year-old.

Seventeen-year-old Kaia Travilla of Mt. Carmel School said the dribbling skills helped her hone her basketball skills. “I was really glad that our coaches sent us drills to follow so that it can help us improve and gave us a chance to work on individual skills.”

Kaeli Pathil, also of MHS, said the basketball drills helped her break her usual routine while cooped up at home.

“I was glad because I was always staying at home doing the usual eat, do my school work, and sleep routine. So when our coach sent us a drill to do at home I was like ‘OK, exercise time!’ and ‘time to burn those calories that I have built up,” said the 15-year-old.

Her older sister, 19-year-old Casey, said she didn’t mind doing the dribbling drills despite being sore the following day after doing them.

“I watched the video that I recorded of myself I was kind of happy with the results. I could really notice the difference when I did the most basic ball-handling drills compared to the last drill (which combined all the skills together). Though I took a lot of time in between the recording to practice each of the drills to be able to get better and was sore after, but I think it was really worth it seeing that I have improved a little on my ball-handling skills,” said the Northern Marianas College student.

Kyna Margareth Sales, a 16-year-old junior at MHS, said next to face-to-face practice, the dribbling skills were like mana from heaven.

“I was still more than glad to do these drills at home. Because doing so will have us stay consistent and better our handles for when we get back, especially since basketball season for high school is here and an upcoming bash as well.”

SSHS’ Angel Ashley Calage said when she heard basketball practices were suspended she was a little upset. She, however, cheered up a bit when told they will be doing online dribbling drills instead.

“I was very much glad because not only will it get me up and moving at home, it can still help me to get better on handling and correcting myself with the drills. Not only that, but to also make me get better and ready for the bash that’s happening in December and the upcoming high school basketball season,” she said.

Diaz thanked the RBA players for taking on the online dribbling skills with aplomb. He also thanked the parents of RBA players and club’s sponsors for their untiring support.

“In behalf of the RBA board and head coaches we would like to thank our RBA parents and our sponsors. Even during these hard times they are still helping our club.”

RBA’s sponsors include House Speaker Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan), vice speaker Rep. B.J. Attao (R-Saipan), Rep. Vicente Camacho (D-Saipan), Rep. Angel Demapan (R-Saipan), Rep. Ralph Yumul (R-Saipan), Rep. Roy Ada (R-Saipan), Sen. Vinson “Vinnie” Sablan (R-Saipan), Sen. Edith Guerrero (D-Saipan), Sen. Jude Hofschneider (R-Tinian), and Pacific Amusement LLC.