As the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 97 approaches, several coaches revealed their list of must-have qualities for a shooting guard.
While the ability to make his shots fall is the obvious one, Charles Tiu, who is at the helm of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, said a shooting guard should also create plays for his teammates.
Tiu and Colegio de San Juan de Letran mentor Bonnie Tan were in unison that a shooting guard must also know how to play on the defensive end of the court.
"I'd like my shooting guards to be able to shoot, to be able to create for their teammates, and more importantly, to be able to defend the other shooting guards," said Tiu in Tuesday's episode of NCAA Season 97 primer "Game On".
Tan added: "It will be a bonus of a shooting guard is also good in defense so that if he got unlucky in offense, there's still the defense."
For San Beda University's Boyet Fernandez, a 'two' guard should also be able to relieve some of the pressure off the point guard by bringing the ball down himself.
"Well, for shooting guards, of course you need to have the shooting [skills]. You need to be consistent in the outside shots. He can also bring down the ball while our point guard is being pressured," the champion coach said.
EAC head coach Oliver Bunyi, JRU's Louie Gonzales, Pereptual's Michael Saguigui, and Mapua's Randy Alcantara, on the other hand, shared a shooting guard must have the on-court ferocity.
"They should have the killer instinct. If they were left wide open, they should have the confidence to make those baskets," stressed Gonzales.
"Game On" also had a short visit with some of the shooting guards that NCAA fans should look out for in the upcoming season that kicks off this Saturday, March 26.
Pumped up to lead their respective teams to the top are James Kwekuteye of San Beda, Ichie Altamirano of San Sebastian, Robi Nayve of CSB, Jade Talampas of Arellano, John Barba of Lyceum, and Marwin Dionisio of JRU.
Aside from this current crop, the NCAA has been home to several scoring guards in the recent past like Robert Bolick, Kevin Alas, CJ Perez, and Rey Nambatac, all of whom are making names in the pro ranks.
Watch "Game On" every 10:30 a.m. until March 25. NCAA Season 97 will open on Saturday.
—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News
