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THE
Basketball Association of the Philippines-Samahang
Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) will bring in a top
International Basketball Federation (Fiba) technical
official to conduct clinics and accredit local referees
with the international body.
BAP-SBP
executive director Noli Eala told the BusinessMirror
that Lubomir Kotleba, sports director of Fiba, will be
coming here for a two-day clinic on September 17 and 18.
“We’re
now beginning to develop a comprehensive training
program of our referees nationwide,” said Eala. “This
will jump-start our referees’ clinic and Mr. Kotleba’s
presence here would be a great boost to our programs for
our referees.”
Kotleba
boasts of a wide range of experience as an international
referee, having officiated in 4,015 Fiba-sanctioned
games, three Olympic Games, five World Championships and
12 European Championship games.
Eala
said the Fiba official’s clinic will focus on the
development and education of local referees and on
giving accreditation to the BAP-SBP’s whistle blowers.
“Aside
from the referees, we will also be inviting our
national-team coaches to be observers because this is
one great opportunity for us to learn the latest
development in officiating the game,” said Eala.
Actually, the Philippines is not on the calendar of
Kotleba’s schedule of referees’ training in Asia, but
the BAP-SBP worked diligently to get an audience from
the 14-year Fiba referee.
His
first stop was Kuwait from February 14 to 17, then
traveled to Pyongyang in North Korea on March 17 and 18.
Kotleba also had a three-day training in the United Arab
Emirates from May 27 to 29.
He will
start another two-day clinic today in Iran, then fly and
stay in Japan from September 13 to 15 before going to
the country. Kotleba’s other stops are Macau (September
19 to 21) and Beirut, Lebanon (October 6 and 7).
“Hopefully, our local referees and coaches will learn a
lot from this clinic. This is one area that the BAP-SBP
is also focusing on aside from our national teams,” said
Eala. “We’re looking forward for this opportunity.”
The
venue of the two-day clinic will be announced soon.
After
retiring as a referee in 1989, Kotleba, a national
player of Czechoslovakia in the 1960s, became a
full-time staff of the Fiba and has conducted clinics in
57 countries.
Early
this year, the BAP-SBP established the Asian Referees
Academy of the Philippines under the watch of former
executive director Patrick Gregorio.
The
academy aims to look for the best 24 male and female
referees in the country and be accredited by Fiba. |
