Basketball is the flavour of the season.
While the crème de la crème have been fighting it out at the Basketball World Cup in China, the game’s enthusiasts in Qatar have a great opportunity to get involved in the sport with ‘Legit hoop doctors’.
The Legit Basketball Clinic has been providing intense training sessions to aspiring players at the air-conditioned star-of-the-art facilities of Aspire Dome.
Dozens of youngsters have been honing their skills for the last two months every Thursday and Saturday, but will now have the chance to hone their skills at the first full-time Legit Basketball Clinic.
The Legit group was founded by Lourd Wilhelm Biltz in April 2018 with a mission to create a healthy environment for the residents of Qatar through basketball and contribute to the Qatar National Vision 2030.
“Our vision is to keep the youth physically active and in the process keep improving their passion for the game of basketball,” Wilhelm Biltz told Gulf Times.
The concept of Legit emerged from the passion for the game among a group of friends.
“We don’t have these facilities in our growing years back home. So we as a group of former players, coaches and referees wanted to give something back to the society through the game we love. Our aim is to guide the kids taking the scientific approach,” he said. 
“We have around 50 participants in the clinic,” said the founder, who represented Lekhwiya in 3x3 basketball. “It’s a good turnout.”
The clinic will run year-long every Thursday and Saturday for three hours.
Head coach Michael Aliparo is also enthusiastic about the initiative.
“This is our first clinic – just getting our feet wet,” said Legit head coach Michael Aliparo during a break in the action at Aspire.
Aliparo added: “We have three age groups. First is from 5-11 years and the second is from 12-18 years and the third is 19 years and above.”
 “Our aim is to be the best in Qatar in helping each and every person, who aspires to be better physically and mentally, with the help of the game.
“Apart from teaching basketball skills - dribbling, shooting and passing - through the course, we will help them inculcate a healthy lifestyle.”
Aliparo represented QSports in a 3x3 basketball tournament at Salalah Tourism Festival in Oman last month and even helped his team reach the semi-finals of the tournament.
Aliparo, who plays as shooting guard, has turned out for Al Wakrah Club in Qatar, besides lining up for various professional teams in the Philippines, also spoke about the importance of exposure for the kids.
“We have plans to give them a match feel with tune-up games in Qatar and some real time experience in the local leagues for youth so that they can earn experience and maturity of the game,” he said. Biltz as a mentor is hoping to see his students grow in the sport.
“When we see students improving their performance while enjoying their time at the clinic, we feel we have achieved something. And it’s very satisfying for me and my team,” he said.
Throughout the clinic, big smiles were on display, an indication of the participants’ enjoyment and love for the game, which, of course they shared with their instructors.