ABL 2010 Game 2

2 objectives for this game:
1. Don’t fall face flat anymore during the game
2. Try not to get backache while sitting on the bench.

We were up against a team that was beaten by the team we have beaten in our first game. (For you programming nerds, that’s A > B > C where A is our team is C is our opponent). The good news is, we had a full team and almost everyone was available to play. The bad news is, I saw the other team and they had big tall guys. Big tall guys means when I’m on the floor, I’m like a red flag and all of them want to post me up. It happened in the first game, it was no different in the second game. Heck, even the refs would have wanted to post me up.

Fast forward to the second quarter when I entered. On defense, their forwards were on the corner and they were shouting to their guards to post up their big gorilla on me. Is it really a good idea? One, I weight almost as much as they do plus since I’m shorter, I have a lower center of gravity. I’m like the equivalent of two Djigs double teaming them except well, I don’t like the Lakers. Second, I have 5 fouls and I don’t give a crap if I foul out. Third, I know my goal – keep them far from the basket, don’t let them back me down and force them to shoot a 4 foot hook shot or a scoop shot that either Franco or Tholitz (our two tall guys) could easily block.

In this game I think I was able to hold my ground. When King Kong started to back me down I got hit with a shoulder check and a forearm. I responded with an elbow, a high knee strike and a push (sounds like GameCast updates from an MMA fight). The ref called me for a push. King Kong approached me then apologized. Both of us weren’t hurt in any way. That’s one advantage of being uh… padded. It takes a while before we get damaged. You know that Pacquiao ad for Alaxan where a trainer is hitting Manny with sticks to thicken up his ab muscles? I could do the same and just watch my belly jiggle.

Unfortunately, I only hit the floor once during the game and it was to dive after a ball that was going out of bounds. I did something good for the team though: I actually had two turnovers caused and in both cases they got whistled for a travelling call. Also when that big guy was in the paint, a lot of us were trying to pry loose the ball from his hands. I got like 4 solid strikes on the ball which eventually led to a missed shot. I also fired up a three that hit the side of the rim, I guess that’s my quota for the game. A few minutes later, they subbed in Bertie Bert for me – he’s a bigger version of me who shoots better, rebounds better, runs better and is whiter than me.

It was a close game but in the end, we outlasted them. Romer was the usual Romer. Franco and Tholitz were still tall, blocking shots and getting rebounds. Wendell did a good job at point guard. Rex was wild but in a good way since he can score with 6 people defending him (including the ref). JV remembered our advise to not cross the line when shooting free throws (he also mentions that he’s not bald, he just cut it that way). Sonn? He had that weird looking shot where the ball kinda got stuck at the back of the rim. There’s also boss Anselm who hit a big three and I stand by my rule that managers who hit contested three's during games are required to buy pizza from everyone.

Game Notes:
- Not sure if anyone noticed but the the scorer’s table was activating the clock even during deadball situations. Even if the ball has not been handed to the inbounds man, the clock was already ticking. We didn’t complain since we were leading.
- This was a game where the player of the game would be one of the guards on the other team who travelled all the time. I think he had like 5 or 6 turnovers just because of that.
- I'm used to getting fat jokes and slow jokes (since I really am slow and fat). This was the first time I heard me being too white though. I dunno, Bert is whiter. I mean, when he entered the game he virtually glowed in the dark parts of the court. I dunno Bert, you may be whiter but let's face it...

I'm hotter than you.