Hoops and Stuff

On Sunday, Aug 3, the 2008 Interbatch Playoffs will start, with a familiar participant back after a one-year "layoff" - Batch 92!!!

We will be facing a "new" face, Batch 99, who hasn't been joining the games for the past few years. As we haven't seen them play at all, at this point all we know about them is that (a) they can shoot from the perimeter, (b) they don't have a lot of ceiling (i.e. tall players), and (c) they don't have an "inside" game. We need to take advantage of points b and c in order to win.

Wish us luck!!!

After a horrendous (at least as per our standards) 2007 season, your favorite group of intrepid ballers are back waging war in this year's edition of the Pisay Alumni Basketball League. Waiting 12 months for another chance at redemption, we prepared hard this off-season, playing a grand total of 2 pickup games (and getting blown off the court in both). I myself gained 10 pounds since last year, unfortunately not a single pound was muscle. At least no one seems to be bothered by gout this year, and we have a 'secret' weapon in store - the comeback of the eminently papa-ble Jayson Martinez.

Due to scheduling quirks, we were matched up with two-time champion and long-time nemesis Batch 96 for our opening game. Fresh from their heartbreaking runner-up finish last year, 96 was all business, getting a quick lead right in the first quarter. We managed to stay with them though, keeping the lead manageable. It was obvious however that our conditioning (especially mine) was not up to par, and by the latter part of the game even walking straight was a huge effort. 96 won by 9 points - not good, but not too bad either, considering the lack of preparation.

Our second game featured a rematch with our recent tormentor 2001, who dealt us our only loss during our championship run a couple of years ago, and also beat us handily last year. Featuring a trio of big men and two reliable outside gunners, they are a powerhouse-in-the-making, just about ready to supplant us as one of the heavyweights in Pisay basketball.

The team built a quick lead in the first canto, though we were still wary about their ability to come back, given their youth and firepower. However, 2001 seem to be out of sorts this year, as the expected run never materialized. We hammered out a 44-28 win - ugly, yes, but we'll take wins as we get them at this point!

We actually looked forward to playing the kids, Batch 08, for our third game. They haven't won a game since they joined last year, and we certainly didn't think they will win one against us. The game started though with only six players present, Oliver E was absent, and Jayson strangely was also not around!

Playing the hand that we were dealt, we gamely took it to the kids, pounding it inside as they weren't big nor wide enough to challenge us in the paint. We couldn't put them away though, hanging just close enough for them to still make a challenge in the end game. Fortunately, Jayson came during halftime, and his energy gave us the necessary boost to finally pull away, 61-40 the final.

For the last game of the elims, we were again matched up with 2001, since there was a last-minute pullout by another team. We had the luxury of losing and still make it through the playoffs though, as long as we don't get beat by more than 40 points. Feeling relaxed than usual, we played quite poorly in the latter part of the 1st half, allowing 01 to post a 5 point lead at halftime. We hunkered down to work in the 2nd half, and buoyed up by the 'visiting' James Cruz, won running away 58-45, formally clinching our ticket back to the playoffs.

Now the fun starts, and we'll certainly keep you posted!