Height is no barrier - Praveen Ganlath

Anju RAJENDRAN

How does he survive in a game for tall people? Star basketball player Praveen Ganlath has found a way. His left-handed hook shot.

Praveen Ganlath of St. Benedict's College who was judged the Most Valuable player of the Under 15 tournament has learnt the left handed hook shot from his father Tony Ganlath (basketball coach at Otters).

In the hook shot the player keeps his body between the defensive player and the ball and lofts the ball with an outstretched hand into the basket.

Most difficult shot

This is the most difficult shot to execute but also the most difficult shot to block. It used to be the most revered shot in the US until the jump shot came along simply because it is difficult to defend.

For a relatively short player - fourteen year old Praveen is only five feet two inches tall - the hook shot is a survival shot. In any match he is usually defended by more than one tall player. But with his hook shot he becomes a dangerous player the minute the ball is passed to him.

Praveen is naturally a right hander but has developed so much strength in his left hand for basketball that one would think that he is naturally a left-hander.

He practices with brother Sanjaya every morning for forty five minutes in their own personal court on the third floor of their home. Sanjaya who is a head taller than Praveen and two years older is very strong on his right hand and so Praveen has developed his left handed hook shot to beat his brother at their one-on-one games at home.

Their father Tony Ganlath who is also the school's basketball coordinator has trained his boys in the fundamentals since they were four years old. He says that Praveen is one of the few players in his age group who can actually shoot a basket all the way from the end line.

'Praveen used to be cry-baby when he was Under 13' says his father laughing. During matches, Praveen who was streets better than other players was always marked by more than one player. Feeling frustrated when he could not get at the ball, he would often burst into tears. But few years down the line and he has toughened up.

Praveen has spoken to his father, the night before the A division semi-finals against St. Joseph's. 'Dad, what if the Joes coach has more than one player to guard me? I am scared' he had said. The father had advised him to take all the players on to himself and to fake a shot and pass to Freddie Moraes who would run in behind him.

Field day

For some unusual reason, the Joes coach had only one man on Praveen. Praveen had a field day, with his superior speed and left handed hooks he scored 41 points in the game against St. Joseph's. It was indeed sweet revenge for the frustration that he had felt at the Zonal finals when the Bens had lost to the Joes.

His whole day and night revolves around basketball. He adores his older brother Sanjaya, who is also a Youth National player. 'Praveen doesn't have a jot of laziness in him and that works to his advantage' says dad Tony.

Every day, Praveen has to run up and down three flights of stairs with weights and now he has taken to jumping over barrels to improve his jumps. He is also given a schedule by his dad every day which he carries out diligently.

Praveen's dad has great plans for his sons.

He has planned to get them International exposure in Malaysia and Singapore.

'Playing for the NBA is very difficult for an Asian where they tell you to grow-up and come back if you are anything less than 6feet 5inches tall. But I am determined that my son plays in the International arena' says dad Ganlath.

Praveen is a Year 9 student of St. Benedict's and playing basketball is his greatest joy. He flows on the court. Well-trained in his fundamentals and his uncanny peripheral vision, he is a player well ahead of his peers.

He plays with his brother for his school's Under 19 team as well. With the Ganlath brothers playing together for St. Benedict's - the other schools better watch out.