For Immediate Release

 

PRESS RELEASE

CALVO NAMED HEAD COACH

OF MEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL TEAM

 

(Mangilao, GUAM) – Friday, January 6, 2012 – Effective immediately, the new Head Coach of the Guam Men’s National Basketball Team will be former Guam National player, EJ Calvo, while overall Director of Basketball Operations, Tony Thompson, retains coaching duties for the women’s program, as well as overall management of coaching assignments and strategic planning for the program.

 

Thompson has been a part of the Guam Basketball Federation (GBC) since 1996. He is no stranger to basketball. While he coached in the past, he also is certified to hold workshops for coaches and officials of basketball. He has been part of many championships from the middle school level to the college & international levels. Thompson is looking forward to the challenges that the women’s program has in store.

 

According to Thompson, “EJ was appointed to the position after it became vacant. He is immediately getting started with a training program and team development initiatives for the next term with the East Asian Games coming up in China. I have total faith in his abilities as a coach to take the program to the next level”.

 

EJ Calvo is a former stand-out athlete from Father Dueñas, where he played 3 seasons for Coach Thompson on the varsity squad. Calvo left the island his senior year only to win a California High School State Championship in 1995. He went on to play both basketball and football at the Division II and NAIA level, and returned as a player on the Guam National Basketball Team from 2002 to 2007, where he again played for Coach Thompson. “Even though EJ left Guam, he was always willing to share the knowledge he gained while he was playing college basketball”, said Thompson.

 

According to Calvo, “It was always my dream to represent Guam in basketball and compete against the best in the world, and the opportunity to coach the men’s team is another chance to support the program and further develop the sport in Guam.” He added, “I love to compete and win, and basketball is a sport that has always been successful in Guam, so we need to go to the next level and give our young players a greater chance to accomplish greater heights and successes.”

 

The Guam National Basketball Teams are supported by the GBC, which falls under the umbrella of the Guam National Olympic Committee (GNOC). GBC oversees development of the sport and National Programs from 6 years of age to the adult level in regards to international representation of the island. GBC is also the only recognized organization to represent and compete internationally in FIBA. FIBA is the Federal International Basketball Association which is the governing body for world basketball.

 

The mission for Guam Basketball’s adult teams will be to expand international participation through FIBA Tournaments and expose the island’s basketball talent to the world. The GBC plans on several local tournaments in 2012 against military and international teams, college and semi-pro teams, and is preparing to compete in China at the East Asian Games in the fall of 2013.

 

 

For more information or to schedule interviews, please contact:

 

GBC Secretary, Tony Thompson: live4gbc@yahoo.com

Or

Team Guam Men’s Head Coach, EJ Calvo: ejcalvo@tpiguam.com