Kuala Lumpur Dragons' Ariel Vanguardia's US Scouting Trip

This appears in inthezone.com.ph

Kuala Lumpur Dragons' Ariel Vanguardia's US scouting trip

by rick olivares

What’s in the life of a Filipino coaching abroad? For Ariel Vanguardia who was head coach for the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers and an assistant in Talk ‘N Text and Barako Bull, it’s an opportunity to get around and go up.

Now he does get around as coach for the Kuala Lumpur Dragons for they play in the domestic league, in tournaments in Indonesia, as well as the Asean Basketball League.

In an effort to beef up the Dragons for the coming ABL tournament, Vanguardia went to the United States recently to scout some American basketball players to augment his squad. He also convinced former PBA player Nic Belasco to give it one more go alongside Chris Pacana who last played for Meralco in the local pro league.

Vanguardia was also able to attend a coaches’ clinic conducted by Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari. He was also one of three coaches allowed to watch a closed door practice and a scrimmage by the Wildcats. Vanguardia also went to Stanford, where he was welcomed by former Duke Blue Devil and Philadelphia 76er Johnny Dawkins who is now coach of the Cardinals. His last two coaching stops were at Cal Berkley where he was a guest of coach Jeff Montgomery, the son of Golden State Warriors coach Mike Montgomery and in Fordham.

I met up with coach, who became a friend while I covered the Heavy Bombers first in the PCCL and after that in the NCAA, last Sunday night while watching the PBA. Vanguardia says that the trip was an enriching one and he hopes that it his recruits and his learnings will help him in his craft and pursuit to deliver a title to the Dragons.

With Wildcats rookie Michael Gilchrist. Below the NCAA Championship banners at the Wildcats' practice facility.