This is a new league, maybe about a year old. Its run by Johnny Phan and his friend Kenny. With no more Alpine Striders league and tournament, this might be its replancement. The CAAA could also but is kind of disorganized. I was invited last year, but since I was in the ABA and because this league is in
Eagle Rock, I declined. But now having quit the ABA, I was open.
We had actually played in the Halloween Tournament in October 05, but since we lost two straight games, I didn't want to say much about it. I had gone in thinking I would have Mike and Billy, but I had neither. Still, we had a good team, and with a break here and there, we could have done better. Anyway, Johnny invited me to join the league, and while I am thinking about it, Brandon says he will play with me, and when I ask him for players, he pretty much brings in his "Fortune" team, that had won it two seasons ago, and was in the championship game last season. So with that kind of team, I go for it. I will pay the sponsor fee and the guys will pay the weekly fees. I should mention that the league has expanded this season from eight teams to 20 teams, allowing weaker teams to go lower, so much tougher than before.
Saturday is the Gold division, which is out of my league. But as long as we play zone D, and have a strong team, I should be able to put in 15 minutes a game and not hurt the team, and perhaps contribute thru coaching and the other parts of the game. This will be really fun for me, because I will be playing against some of the premier Asian American players. Alpine, Teo Chow and Taiwan Center will be the favorites, in that order.
So today, Jan 21, 2006, was our first game, against a new team, made up of middle eastern guys? They have a nice inside game, and keep driving in the lane, putting our center, Mike Kidder in early foul trouble. If we had Mike or Edgar, this game would have been easy. Terry gets us out first with some nice inside fast break lays ups. Brandon is not hot, but still good and makes some treys and layups. I go in at about the 13:00 minute mark and play about eight minutes, leaving with us up about 23-19. But they catch us with seconds to go and lead at the half something like 32-29. As coach I have to give something so I go to the table and find out who their shooters are (#15, 4, and 30), and most significantly, they have only one trey from number 30. So I tell the guys not to chase them outside and try to pack the middle. It kind of works as they throw some air balls up, maybe making one. Clark is on fire and makes some nice outside treys. Brandon is tired, so I finally give him his first rest after seven minutes. We catch them and then I get to go in at about the 12 minute mark. I had fouled one guy in the first half, and he made a one plus one, but this time I stay on my feet. At about the 5 minute mark, we are up 1-2 points. We slowly build up a seven point lead, 59-52 with minutes to go. Then we fall apart. Three turnovers and a couple of missed shots. They call an offensive push foul on Hector on the inbounds pass, and the guy goes to the line down 59-57. He makes his first, but misses the second. We get the ball and Brandon gets a nice shot off close to the 30 second time clock but its long and they rebound and come down for the winner. They go inside, miss, rebound, miss and then they say we knock the ball out of bounds with .5 seconds to go. The instructions are to play man, but we leave one guy outside wide open, he gets the ball, with Brandon flying at him, and misses by two feet. Actually, that is not a bad defensive ploy, to make them shoot the long shot with a tall guy flying. So we win 59-58, with our defense doing the job at the crucial last 20 seconds. I can see we could use a shot blocker and a point guard. Our strengths are nice outside shooting and decent rebounding, and Brandon can create a shot whenever he wants. Mike and Terry are great leapers. Clark is not flashy but he is really good and could get us to the level of the top teams. Hector is dangerous, and we still have other guys coming. A win is always a good start, and I am excited!
Sunday, Jan 22, 05. We played Rice N Beans today in the silver division. My first to play at Mark keppel. The old gym is nice, but the floor is really slippery, which I think hurt us. We could not shoot, going 3/32 from three land, missing all of them in the first half and looking at about a 8-12 point deficit. We switched to man in the second half and made a little headway, but still cold from outside. I subbed in and we switched back to zone, and finally got within two, with five minutes to go. But they kept making shots (Clark and Alan), and we kept missing. We did not take advantage of our height but the biggest problem was the blanks we were shooting. We had to resort to fouling at the end, but of no help and lost. As I have said before, "live by the three, die by the three."
Saturday, Jan 28. We played Indos. For some reason, we had to play at Montebello HS, and then when we got there, we almost couldn't play due to someone else having the gym. Anyway, they were basically a two man team, with the taller one less active but a good trey shot and the younger one #15 very active and athletic. We were leading at the half by 11, something like 35-24, I think. The lead got up to 15 early in the second. I thought it would be safe for me to go in at he 13 minute mark, with us up by about 11-13. But then we choked, including three turnovers by Carson, and all of a sudden it was a two point game. I left with about 4 minutes to go. The turnovers for us continued and we should have lost in regulation but somehow got into OT, but it didn't help, we just couldn't stop them, and the guy zipped in a pass down to a guy below for a easy layup, Brandon called a time out we didn't have, so a T, and it was over. Again cold from threes, and awful ball control in the second half. Clark was again great, and Terry was good, but no other major contribution, though everyone scored but me. Mike Kidder did better than his first two games with me, scoring two buckets and rebounding well.
Sunday, Jan 29. Johnny was great and Terry was good at center. I started and fell down one minute into the game, kind of embarrasing. Brandon came late and was out of synch though he was still terrific at assists. I messed up two long passes, as I was weak and uncoordinated. But I got three defensive rebounds, so finally I get into the stat books. Since there was just six of us, I got to play major minutes. Again we were up at the half (can't recall how much), building up as much as a 7 point lead, but fold in the last minutes, misfiring again on three treys. I begged the guys to go to the post where I am almost positive we would have won, but the three point shooting continued, and again we lost. I didn't think that team was particularly good. But they were nice guys. We are not playing like a team.
Saturday, Feb 3 was a good game in that we won. But actually, I thought we played very subpar. No disrespect, but the AMBallers are really a C division team. They will probably go winless in our division, and if they played silver they would still be near the bottom. Lucky for them they picked up two players to help them. We were winning the entire game, and then we fell apart at the end allowing them to past us and we had to foul them and they missed two 1+1 and Brandon made a trey to send us into OT. Then we had to go to sudden death, where Terry bounced the ball in. Michael in particular had an awful game, turning the ball over and going 1/10. Lucky Brandon had a semi decent game. It worked out good we played this team, in that Clark was a no show.
Sunday, Feb 4. We wasted a beauty of a game from Johnny. I finally felt comfortable and played point a couple of times. Too bad I missed my two shots, rushing them. Ivan and Nghii also missed all thier shots. Again, bad defense, too many turn overs. And Brandon was out painting. We had a chance at the end, but couldn't get a shot off with 5 seconds, so I now have a play set up should we get into that situation again. But 0-3, I am having nightmares, and we suck big time. Forget about first place, we will just have to shoot for third.
Saturday, Feb 10. We play the AS Friends. I thought this was going to be the old Alpine guys, but this is the new kids. Nifty little point guard, but nothing like the old Alpine Striders. They were lucky to beat us as we threw away some passes, esp Mike. They have a decent press, but not really great shooters. Tony the old Alpine coach was there yelling at the kids, I guess thats the way that system works. Somehow they beat us, but I think we can get them if we meet them again. Brandon played well against them, but we needed to get the ball to Clark more. Terry was missing.
Sunday, Feb 11. So we lost to a team we should have beat, Luxoorious JC Inc. Brandon and Johnny are cold from three land going 3 for 20. Our defense breaks down at crucial moments. The only good moment was that I got a four point play. Johnny hurt his thumb and couldn't start the second half and chose to put Ivan to start in his place. It was close but then they ran out to about a ten point lead. So I thought to myself, well we suck so I might as well go in there. Thats when we made a comeback and we got to within two with me. Then I went out, and we go trey crazy coming up empty. They get their first win and we suck again. What is wrong with us??
Sunday Feb 26. We play Hoops and they are a good team. Not fast but big and Vincent is their outside shooter. At game time, its just Rob, Mike and me. Brandon shows up late, but we get them to wait. Everyone is hurt or in Vegas. We play about ten minutes with us four and are down by ten I guess. Johnny helps us out and shows up even though he is tired from Vegas. Its pretty much even after that. I play my best game, getting rebounds and steals and making some shots. They say I got 9, but I can only remember 7, whatever. I make the list with my three steals. Brandon goes 2-15 from trey land and Rob is 0-3. Why is Brandon so cold? This is the worse I have ever seen him shoot. Maybe he is just too tired from so much games. 0-5, who would have thought it? This is the worse I have ever been on. Can we redeem the season? I am so embarrassed. I even could not sleep last nite.
Saturday March 4. We play Teo Chow, one of the best Chinese Teams in California, if not USA. Older guys, lacking any speed, but precision passing and great shooting. And what do we come with? Four players! Johnny is nice enough to let Phil Chien play with us, realizing we would lose anyway, and to save us the forfeit money. So they put on a clinic on us, scoring at will and we get wiped out 118-78. They were on fire. The only way to beat them is with man D. I see that its a lost cause so I decide to shoot, and I take 18 shots, must be a record. But missed all kinds of easy shots.
Sunday March 5. We rebound the next day and pull the upset on Rice N Beans, putting a serious dent in their hope for first place. I start and we just look great, with Brandon and Johnny shooting very nicely. I must have been out of my mind because I fouled out early in the half! The ref thinks I am dirty. But Nghi puts in some timely shoots and we win our first game in the Silver, hopefully not our last!
Saturday March 11. We play Taiwan Center, a good team but not like Teo Chow or Alpine. They have the two black outside shooters and the inside game of Bill Chao. Luckily their best shooter comes late, though its still close. We are looking good with Brandon shooting well. When Brandon is on, we are an awesome team. Clark is consistently good. And Rob is here to give us that extra fire. Even Karson and Hector have good games, and though Taiwan Center is shooting over 50%, we are just too good today and eek out the win. Clark is isolated on the last play and they foul him, and he is cool, sinking in the winning 1+1 for the lead and win. Our D holds them in the last few possessions. I didn't play much, about 5 minutes in each half, but did a decent job coaching. A good team effort.
March 12. Its the Big Tymers and when I see that their shooter is a no show, I am thinking upset. But then I see Brandon play, and its obviouse he is tired and worn out. In short, they blow us out and we look just awful. Lots of turnovers, not getting back on D. I remember when I had the ball and this guy just ripped it out from me. I sink my first shot, a nice 5 foot banker, but with the game out of hand I shoot in the second half and miss all 5 shots, getting blocked twice. We are down at the half 26-16 and I go out and throw away the first pass, I suck. They didn't have one guy that did us in, they all had a good game. Our worse game ever and probably their best game ever. Should have played man, but Brandon doesn't think I can match up with anyone. So we will do it sooner or later just to show Brandon I can if matched up properly (or maybe prove him right). So we are mathamatically out of contention for any T shirts. But I still want to win our last three games, just so that our good name is not disparaged. I like our team but somehow we just are no good. Should we return next season?
March 18 Gold Division game against the 0-6 Red Bull and Vodka. They look decent with some tall fellows but they have awful shooting. Their little point guard was shooting awful treys (1/11). And the rest of the team was just as bad. They will probably be demoted to the silver division or lower next season. On top of that, they were making fools of themselves by complaining to the refs. Clark starts off cold missing the inside jumpers, so decides to go long range, and goes crazy hitting five NBA range treys (5/7). He gives me some nice passes but I have no feel for the shot and go 0/3. I did have three nice assists. Karson and Mike also show up and we pretty much spank them royally 64-39. I wish I would played more, this was the right game for me, but we had seven guys today. So with this win, combined with the Indo lost to AM Ballers (their shooter didn't show up until half time and Johnny and Nghi were hot), we have the tie breaker against Taiwan Center, and we earn #3 seed going into the playoffs at 4-3. Look at the nice write up we had, saying we are the dark horse pick to sneak in the championship. I agree we have the talent, but will we play smart and not selfishly? This means letting Clark lead us, take good shots, and play conservative defense. The first round is against Indo, and we have to contain the shooter. The second round is Teo Chow, and we will have to play man. The championship if we get there is against famous Alpine, who are hot, and we will have to break their press and limit the turnovers. These are the keys and game plan - will it work?
March 19. Silver division game against BP Losers, our last gasp at a possible third place finish. But Brandon comes late. I start and we are actually doing ok. Then those guys get hot. Peter hits three treys, and their whole team follows suit ending up 15/36 from trey land. We go 7/34 from trey land and that is the difference as they beat us by eight points 72-64. Boy, we had some ugly defense. We tried man mid first half and made a short come back, down by about 6-8, but then the second half we started out again with man with Nghi starting, and they broke us down. After ten minutes, we are losing by about ten and that is pretty much the game. They were just too hot today, shooting 44% which is pretty good for them. If we would shoot less treys, we would do better. Anyway, its a friendly game against a usually volatile team. This officially knocks us out of contention for third. The league write up is kind to us. It would be nice to win our last two games for the sake of our pride. But Johnny and Brandon will be out next week.
March 25, Gold Division, Playoff Game One against Indos. We know who the shooters are and I just want to contain them to twenty or under. Because our offense can outshoot them I think. Surprisingly, their other players hit some long shots. Clark is insane, just taking it to them and ends up scoring 39 points. Karson is helpful too making some timely shots and though its close, we beat them.
March 26, Silver against Luxooorius. I am thinking we should beat them. But no Johnny. So its five of us, and they are vastly improved. The high post guy kills us making shot after shot, going 8/11. I am too short and slow to stop him there and Nghi is out of position. Besides that we shoot low percentage and so we lose.
April 1, Gold against Teo Chow. Though we are playing poorly, we are in the game with our defense. Brandon has one magnificent two minute span where he drove in for two or three lay ups and capped it with a trey to keep the game close. But they go to Albert and we have no stop and our shots are just off, missing some easy shots. We are in the game until the closing minutes when we have to foul, and thats when they pull away. Clark had a good game, but not great, missing all his treys. And Karson misses all his shots, some of them really easy ones. Terry does not help enough, and Mike is gun shy. So we miss out on a good opportunity, because we can beat them. But we would have to play well to do it. I admire Terry and Mike, but the chemistry is just not there with me. If we return, I would want to make some changes. Anyway, next week we have a chance for third place.
April 2, Silver against Hoops, our last game. Just five of us, I don't care, since we have nothing to play for, so why don't I just play the entire game, and besides that I am going to shoot. Brandon doesn't come, so its me, Nghi, Johnny, Mike and Truck. We are on fire, especially Johnny, the first half and run out to something like a 38-26 lead. I remember scoring two treys on my first two shots. We then come out flat, missing our first ten shots or so, and they catch us and even pass us. Some guy kind of body guards me, and I lose the ball, and I am thinking the ref should call foul, but that guy calls traveling or something. I ask the ref if he saw the foul, and he says no, so I am pissed and mutter, you need some glasses, to which he says to me, what did you say? Well, i have said too much already, and I made my point, so I don't say anything. I am also thinking that this might be the same jerk who fouled me out of the last game. Later he calls a foul and says to me, I don't need glasses for that, to which I say, can't talk to you now with the game going on, I will talk to you afterwards. And then later he says to me after I cause a turn over, "nice hustle." So, ok I won't talk to you then. And besides we win the game. So anyway, we finally get some shots in, including a lay up by me, and have a two point lead with seconds to go. But they break us down and Con hits a nice 12 footer. He had been killing us the whole game, because both Mike and Truck like to chase outside leaving baseline open. So OT. They get the jump and Con hits two free throws. We turnover and miss the shots. Another of their guys hits one out of two freethrows. Then Nghi comes up with this crazy driving bank layup. They miss again and we have the ball with seconds to go and they have no fouls to give. So Nghi has the ball, drives, and they collapse, and then he passes to Johnny who is just open on the baseline and bam, he hits the 12 footer and we win by one. Not a bad way to end a terrible season. 2-8. They say I score 12, but I only remember 8. I do remember the assists and rebounds. Not a bad game for me, I remember going 3-6. But one miss was blocked when I went inside and Mike passed to me and I toke the shot, boy that was stupid. So my stats are not too bad and I know I can play in this league. There are some guys in the league with worse stats.
April 8, 2006. Gold Division Playoff for third place against Taiwan Center. If we win this one, we get t shirts plus recognition. If we lose, we get zip. So I really wanted to win. But Brandon, Clark, Mike, and Terry are no shows. Should be a forfeit, but the other team is in just as bad as shape and the guy Shawn tells me before the game that he has only four and has to bring in help. I wasn't happy about it, but when I found out we were also in the same shoes, it turned out good that I didn't say anything. Brandon had called Hector to bring in someone, and he brought Bobby Foo. Well, I thought our chances of winning were slim, but if Hector and Karson could have good games then maybe. Well, Karson was off, but Bobby was crazy and shot something like 8/12 (5/7 treys) and Hector was just as good 9/16 (3/4 treys). Hector played like he does at Walnut, and I have wondered why he doesn't do well in Mofufus. But today he did. So those two carried us, and our defense was stellar (and I take some credit for that) and we were leading at the half 33-23. They started out zone, but quickly went to man when we hit our treys. But man did not stop us. I was even able to drive on my man and get a lucky bounce and deuce, including a foul shot. I had some ok assists, but Tony the scorekeeper didn't give me credit. But by second half, I was wasted and couldn't do squat on offense, saving what I had for defense and helping out on the offense when they needed someone to pass to. So only one of the two shooters showed up for their team, and he was off in the first half, although I was pretty much on him the whole time: 4/18 for treys, 7/25 total, getting 21 pts. In the second half he made some good shots, but too late, we won big. We couldn't have played better than we did and though outsized, except for Mike Kidder, who was also good, we hustled. We got some nice breakaway layups and open treys. 63-51. Congratulations to Walnut JL, we get third. I am pretty happy with it because our name is on the website, and maybe next season we could do better, because I want to try to recruit for both divisions and give it another try, since I think I can still play. How do you like that, I play the whole game, and we win. Not too bad for an old guy.
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