02/20 - Ryboy's Friday Blog: Week 1

Thursday 20th of November 2008

RYBOY’S FRIDAY BLOG

It is great to be alive, spring is in the air, and the CEBC friendship basketball league has started. First off, I would like to apologize for not fulfilling my duties as a CEBC friendship league blogger last week. I’ve gotten hundreds of email complaints from angry fans. My excuse…it was preseason.

Alright 3 games…lets get it on!

1.Winner: Gray 32 Loser: Green 26

Defensive Adeptness or Offensive Ineptness? For the privileged spectators, scorekeepers, and refs, both teams put on a defensive virtuoso on this special Tuesday night. The score 32 and 26, respectively, DOES the game plenty of justice. I liken it to a watching Johnny Knoxville and Steve- O performing self mutilation or having a open wound, sitting a Malaysian trumpet snail on my arm, and pouring salt on it. Ouch, it hurts.

The Green Team is reminiscent of the mid 90’s Knicks, Oakley, Mason, Charles Smith minus Derek Harper, Starks, and Ewing. Hopefully the Green team posts a better record this year, than their dismal record a year ago. Otherwise, they will be in the running with the Warriors, Grizzlies, Trailblazers, and 90 percent of the NBA’s east coast teams for the Oden/Durant sweepstakes. This will make it two years in a row where they get the 1st pick in the draft. Last year they landed Norman Siu (Chinese Josh Smith), who had 4 blocks and 2 steals in last week’s preseason game. Yes, J.C Chasez is a workhorse down low and yes, he will continue to own the backboards along with the rest of the frontcourt players, for the season’s duration. With this front court, John Kwok (6’1”) goes down in the Guinness World Record books as the tallest PG in CEBC friendship league history.

The Gray team looked as impressive as you can possibly look while scoring a total of 32 points and getting the win. Veterans, Calvin Lee and Daniel Quach, integral parts of last years championship team have found the fountain of cagey and chipped in with 13 points collectively.

NOTES: Coleman Chung goes down with an ankle injury, downgraded to (doubtful) for next weeks game…MRI negative…The green team mocked the gray team by putting only 4 guys on the court…Spectators…Jack Nicholson and Octavio Jimenez were spotted…but not canoodling.

2.Winner: Red 46 Loser: Blue 45

Spilled Milk? Basketball is a game of runs. When I was watching the game, I was trying to determine if the Blue team and captain Brian Chew, could hold off the last run by the red team. Lil’ John Yee played the role of physical intimidator. Alan Lin, was temporarily shelved due to an inadvertent Lil’ John Yee spear. The blue team fought to retain the lead, but then the momentum turned. The game came down to the last final possessions, where execution became a huge factor. Everyone has seen it before, perhaps too many times, turnovers, missed free throws, and muffed execution in the final minutes, and the lead was relinquished.

Captain Greg Wong (red team) hit an enormous shot near the top of the key and then forward Jeff Chan calmly iced the game with two consecutive free throws, followed by the popping his collar. Game over.

NOTES: Cornerstone team members shot a combined 9/39 or 23.077 % from the field in all three games…Alan Lin listed as (probable) after the Lil’ John Yee spearing incident

3.Winner: Black Team 35 Loser: White 33

This game was an epic grind it out battle between the two teams with the most wearable colors. Game came down to a single play. The black team, in the final minutes, erased a six point deficit by applying pressure in the front court and went to a press which was advised by Eugene Tse, aka The Snowman. Yes, a MMA reference. The pressure was effective. The final seconds went down in the books like this: Hubert Lim, aka, “TC” or Tauren Chieftan, unabbreviated for all you nerds in Warcraft land out there fouled Anthony Pineda (16 pts, 15 reb), after an offensive rebound. Horn sounded. Goodnight.

The White team boasts a solid team on paper this year with players like Adam Moscoso, Darryl Greene, Hubert Lim, and Kevin Mau. Not to mention, ex-Clipper Wang Zhu Zhu’s third cousin, Gu Xian Wang, who can ball in his own right. The team is flooded with talent, and I expect them to post a good record this season.

NOTES: Weirdest moment of the day: Paolo Mendoza shooting at the opponents basket on what he thought was a breakaway layup…Referee/Pastor Scott Crook hit a fade away in the corner (24 footer) after the game was over…other referee/coach Rob Tam reminisced on how he used to play the drums on the backboard after each slap a few years ago.

After it all…it was time to go home...sports to watch…more basketball to be played…things to figure out…things to be thankful for…