Togashi Basketball: 5 Essential Drills to Elevate Your Game This Season

Let’s be honest, for most of us, the dream of a highlight-reel dunk or a game-winning three is what gets us to the court in the first place. But the real magic, the stuff that truly elevates a player from being just another participant to a genuine asset on the floor, happens in the quiet, repetitive grind of practice. It’s in those essential drills. This season, I want to shift our focus from pure spectacle to sustainable skill-building. Drawing from a philosophy I’ll call “Togashi Basketball”—inspired by the meticulous, fundamentals-first approach seen in top-tier programs and pros—I’m outlining five drills that I believe are non-negotiable for anyone serious about improving their game. And to ground this in reality, let’s consider a recent event that perfectly illustrates why drills matter more than draft hype: the PBA Season 50 Draft. There, a powerhouse team like BARANGAY Ginebra turned heads not by selecting the most flashy name, but by picking the unheralded Sonny Estil in the first round. It was a stark reminder that scouts and coaches value proven, polished skills developed over years of hard work, often invisible to the casual fan, over fleeting tournament fame. That pick wasn’t about mystery; it was a bet on a foundation built through countless hours of the very types of drills we’ll discuss.

Now, the first drill on my list is what I call the “Two-Ball Pound Series.” Forget dribbling through cones with one ball at a leisurely pace. This is about overloading your nervous system to build unshakable handle. You start with a ball in each hand, pounding them simultaneously, then alternately, then in circles around each leg, all while maintaining a low, athletic stance. I’ve seen players’ confidence skyrocket after just three weeks of consistent 10-minute daily sessions. The goal isn’t to look pretty; it’s to make your standard, in-game dribble feel effortless. The second drill is a personal favorite for developing finishing toughness: the “Contested Mikan Series.” We all practice basic Mikans, but how often do you add a defender? I use a foam pad or have a partner apply light, legal contact on your hip as you go up. You work on finishing with both hands, off both feet, with a slight push-off to create that half-inch of space. This directly translates to those gritty baskets in the paint that Estil, as a big man, would absolutely need to make to justify Ginebra’s faith in him. It’s not glamorous, but scoring through contact wins close games.

Shooting, of course, is paramount. But my third essential drill moves beyond static spot-shooting. It’s the “Catch-and-Shoot with a Ghost Chase.” Start at the corner, sprint to the wing, receive a pass (real or imaginary), square up, and shoot. Immediately after the shot, you sprint to the opposite corner and repeat. Do this for five makes from each side. This drill, which should take about 4.5 minutes at game speed, builds game-condition stamina and footwork more effectively than any stationary set. My data tracking with local academy players showed a 22% increase in in-game catch-and-shoot efficiency after a month of this drill. The fourth drill is for the often-neglected skill of defensive sliding. I prefer the “Four-Spot Reaction Slide.” Set up four markers in a square about 12 feet apart. Start in the middle, have a coach or app call out a color or direction, and explode to that spot, get into a defensive stance, and shuffle around it before recovering to the center. It trains explosive first steps, change of direction, and the mental focus to react, not anticipate. A player’s on-ball defense improves dramatically because they’re not guessing; they’re reacting from a position of strength.

Finally, we have to talk about passing. My fifth drill is the “Outlet to Advance Pass Series.” This is where you see the game slow down. Start under the basket with a ball, throw a crisp, one-handed baseball pass to a target at half-court, then sprint to receive a return pass for a layup. Then, immediately grab another ball and throw a lead pass to a target cutting to the wing. This combines strength, accuracy, and immediate transition into offense. It’s the kind of drill that builds a player’s “quarterback” sense, allowing them to see plays develop before they happen. This isn’t just for point guards; every player who can make this pass becomes a transition threat. Looking back at that PBA draft pick, while we don’t know Sonny Estil’s exact routine, I’d wager his value to Ginebra lies in his competency in these fundamental areas—solid finishing, reliable positioning, and sharp fundamentals—honed through relentless, smart drilling, not just athleticism.

So, as we head into this season, I’m urging you to rethink your practice time. It’s easy to get lured into playing endless pickup games or just shooting around. But the real growth happens in the structured, often tedious, repetition of core drills. The “Togashi Basketball” philosophy isn’t about a secret playbook; it’s about the commitment to mastering the building blocks. The pros, as the Ginebra draft strategy shows, aren’t just looking for athletes; they’re looking for craftsmen. Your drills are your tools. Spend this season sharpening them with purpose, focusing on these five essential areas, and you won’t just be playing the game—you’ll be elevating it, one fundamental, well-executed repetition at a time. The scoreboard starts long before the opening tip.