29 Jul Trio of former St. Peter’s hoopsters play the point at local mini camp

Special from Staten Island Advance / SILive.com

Published on Jul 29, 2020
By: Charlie De Biase Jr. | debiase@siadvance.com

Old habits die hard.

When John Baiano, Glenn Sanabria and Chris Clancy donned St. Peter’s uniforms during their respective high school days, they couldn’t get enough time on the hardwood.

Each of the three were gym rats, to say the least, and their commitment to constantly improving helped Baiano (2002 graduate) and Clancy (2019) earn Jaques Awards while Sanabria (2014) was a serious candidate for the trophy given to Staten Island’s top player each season.

But most importantly, their play helped the Eagles to immense success. The trio has not only combined to win six SIHSL varsity tournament championships, but a pair of CHSAA AA Intersectional semifinal appearances as well.

The coronavirus pandemic put a stranglehold on sporting activities everywhere during the spring and early part of summer and basketball, of course, wasn’t afforded an exception.

Things, however, are beginning to thaw out a bit and as hoops begins to take off again while following COVID-19 safety procedures, Baiano, Sanabria and Clancy have teamed to help run the Staten Island Mavericks Mini Camp in the parking lot of St. Patrick’s School in Richmond this week.

The fact they got to teach approximately two dozen youngsters (8-14-years-old) the finer points of the game is a bonus.

“I’m older now and one of the biggest things I have to offer is my experiences,‘’ said the 36-year-old Baiano, who also starred at Southern New Hampshire University. “I want to be an inspiration to them. I’m diminutive in size, but I was still able to accomplish a lot and I want them to know there’s no reason why they can’t achieve the same things we did if they work hard.‘’

Baiano, Sanabria and Clancy each worked different stations at the mini camp and were attempting to get the campers to develop good habits.

“(The kids) come to something like this because they’re looking to get better,‘’ added the 19-year-old Clancy, who will soon be entering his sophomore year at Gannon University in Erie, Pa. “I remember coming to camps like this and wanting to learn when I was their age, so I like being here and helping them.

“We’re trying to get the point across that they have to keep playing on their own when they’re not at camp,‘’ added Clancy. “They’ve been into it (here) and hopefully they understand the importance of working out in their spare time.‘’

“I took camps like this seriously when I was little. I was always looking to improve my game,‘’ said Sanabria, a 24-year-old Mariners Harbor resident who was a Division 1 player at St. Francis College in Brooklyn for four years. “To me, it’s important to provide them motivation and inspiration. We keep telling them, if they want to get better, they have to work and I think it’s great that they come hear early in the heat.

“I think they understand they’re getting older and they have to get the fundamentals down.‘’

Baiano, Sanabria and Clancy will return for another three-day outdoor mini camp next week from Monday-Wednesday (Aug. 3-5) between 6-8 p.m. at St. Patrick’s.

Rocky Ferrante, meanwhile, will team with Moore Catholic freshman basketball coach Greg Civiletti Thursday-Friday (July 30-31) for a two-day outdoor mini camp at 301 North Burgher Ave.

For more information, please check out the Staten Island Mavericks social media pages on Facebook and Instagram (@simavsaau).

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