CEBU CITY, Philippines — It’s more than just a game.

This is what this well-known Cebuano basketball coach always tells his players while encouraging them to have fun playing.

Meet Tommy Spencer, 31, the founder of Daily Grind I.T training camp in Cebu.

For six years, Coach Tom has been making customized training programs for basketball players and athletes.

Looking back, Coach Tom said he was not a star player in his younger years, but his love for the game was just too strong to let this passion pass.

“My love for basketball actually started late. I fell in love with the game during my first year of college. From that moment on, I became obsessed with improving and pursued my dream of becoming a varsity player,” he said.

When the pandemic struck, he leaned toward learning the ropes of coaching from Coach Dj Sackmann of HoopStudy and Coach Nicolo Chua of Simple Grind.

“They inspired me to become a coach and help young athletes reach their dreams, whether it’s becoming a varsity player, developing their overall skills, or simply understanding the process of becoming the best version of themselves,” he added.

From being a trainee, he saw a bigger horizon: to share his knowledge about the sport with players, aspiring players, and those who just want to stay in shape through basketball.

He just saw that in coaching or training athletes, he could be a big stepping stone for them to achieve their goals.

One of the programs he has in his training camp is the “Flow State Warm-Up,” which basically teaches players the right mindset for the game.

“Being a great basketball player isn’t just about improving your skills. It’s about applying the lessons you learn from basketball to your everyday life: discipline, consistency, resilience, and the willingness to keep learning. That’s what truly makes a great player,” he said.

While these values weigh heavily in achieving one’s basketball dream, Coach Tom also stands his ground in reminding players to make sure their love for the game is as loud as the sounds of dribbling they hear on court.

“Always have fun, enjoy the process, and never stop being a student of the game. Growth comes when you love the journey, not just the results,” he added.

To be a trainer requires not just time, but effort in making the right programs for athletes. And when everything falls into place and results come into play, it makes it all worth it and rewarding.

According to Coach Tom, success is when he sees his players grow, not just as basketball players, but as persons outside the court.

“Watching them gain confidence, develop character, and succeed on and off the court means everything to me,” he added.

And one of the best players he coached is Reinhard Jumamoy. He is proud of and thankful for Jumamoy’s trust and confidence in him, which helped him land a spot as a player with the National University Bulldogs.

“He believed in me, trusted my program, and has remained loyal ever since. He’s always eager to learn, pays attention to every detail, and stays humble despite his success,” he said.

Unlike most basketball players and coaches whose inspirations are their fathers who are in love with the sport, Coach Tom’s biggest inspiration is his mother, who raised him and his sister.

And outside the court, Coach Tom is the happy husband of Corinn and a proud father to his son, Kai.

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