Pinoy Youth Dreamers founding president Beaujing Acot and Father Duenas Friars of Guam coach Jimmie Yi pose with select participants in the recent Dreamers League.
PYD photo
PYD, Guam-based school renew outreach program
BUOYED by the success of their recent Manila visit, the Father Duenas Friars of Guam, United States hopes to continue to work together with the Pinoy Youth Dreamers this year to help discover more outstanding young players.
Father Duenas Friars head coach Jimmie Yi said the Guam-based team’s participation in the recent Dreamers League organized by PYD president Beaujing Acot was a good learning experience for his young student-players.
“We’re surely coming back to participate in future PYD tournaments of coach Beaujing Acot. We finished only third, but I think the players learned a lot. That’s more important for all of us,” said Yi in an interview with People’s Tonight recently.
The experience of playing against their Filipino counterparts, according to Yi, was a good learning experience for his young players.
“Our players went back home to Guam not just with new-found friends, but valuable lessons in basketball which they can use in the near future,” added Yi, who also plans to hold more outreach program for out-of-school youth not only in Pasig area but in other parts of the Metro Manila as well.
“When we come back for more outreach program, it could be anywhere. We’re not limiting our program to Pasig only. We’re open to any areas.”
Yi also lauded PYD’s own outreach program to discover more players from the grassroots.
“I think this PYD outreach program for the youth is wonderful. They have great impact for the young players and as basketball coaches and players, that’s really our goal. We don’t just play basketball but we also want to go out there and help other kids, especially the ones that don’t have enough opportunities. We want to pay it forward.”
Asked for his assessment about the recent PYD tournament, Yi said his team benefitted a lot.
“For Father Duenas, this is our pre-season because our season starts this month. But my assessment is really very good. Not bad for only having only six weeks of practice, so my assessment was pretty good,” explained Yi.
“It really met my expectations. I think they still have a lot to learn. First time experience for many of the kids, first international experience. So our main objective for this trip was really just to get the experience before our high school season this month.”
