LIPBL'S SHORTEST SQUAD STANDS TALLEST
By John Cairns
YUNG SHUE WAN, Lamma Island, Hong Kong – A team that lagged early in the Lamma Island Pinoy Basketball League (LIPBL) season finished by leaving everyone else behind. Relentless, refusing to be denied, the blue-uniformed Lamma Archers toppled the earlier frontrunners, the Gray Hawks, 92-88, in an exciting title game on Sunday (December 4) at Yung Shue Wan's outdoor basketball court.
Led by perpetual-motion man Anthony Bito-Onas, the Archers took an early lead (49-46 at halftime) and clung to it, fighting off fierce counter-attacks as the Hawks swooped repeatedly, trying to take control. To no one's surprise, a vote by players selected Bito-Onas, the five-team league's top-scorer, as the season-long most-valuable player.
Repeatedly, Bito-Onas received the ball and attacked the basket, toppling defenders like bowling pins as he went. If initially failing to score, he battled ferociously for rebounds.
Kenny Chan, a slick-shooting Archer, was named the final-game MVP. As usual, the blue-clad playmaker Alvin Diego excelled too. But the Archers triumphed mostly due to diligent effort and solid teamwork.
In a game for third-place, Huggen D’ass (red uniforms) outran the Awesome Tigers (green) 113-81. The “red shirts” picked an opportune time for their best game of the season.
During an awards ceremony, the Archers oldest player, 53-year-old Ken Palenzuela Tribiana, watched, smiling a little. “You know, it just occurred to me that after losing our first two games of the season, we won seven in a row,” he said, almost disbelievingly.
The Archers badly needed every victory. How did they achieve such a turnaround? After their 0-2 start, they held some productive practices and made re-evaluations.
Mainly, “I think we succeeded because every player understood his role on the team,” Ken said. “We all knew what to do on offence and what to do on defense.”
By taking the title, the Archers showed the merits of a fast-paced, intense style. Undeniably, the Hawks possess more youth and height. Indeed, the Archers lack tall players (they're the LIPBL's shortest team), proving that “giants” don't always prosper.
In an unusual situation, part of the final game (late in the third quarter) took place in near-darkness until the court's lights automatically came on at 6 p.m., as they do daily. “Ha! Playing basketball in the dark – that adds extra difficulty,” remarked one observer.
During some championship games elsewhere, attention-seeking "streakers" disrupt play by running onto the playing surface. In contrast, the LIPBL final had a short delay when a local dog, presumably also adept at chasing rubber balls, trotted onto the court.
Amid the final-day festivities, the LIPBL staged several talent competitions. Arno Linder of the Gray Hawks won a three-point shooting contest. In an event with three players from each team, the Archers emerged as the best free-throw shooters. Previously, the Tigers' Jeff Fernandez won a shoot-dribble-pass showdown for point guards.
With the end of the LIPBL's second season (the first finished last April), many Lamma Islanders will need a new Sunday-afternoon activity. Luckily, the problem may be temporary. A third season should materialize late next year. Meanwhile, discussions have started about a second season of the Lamma Pinay Volleyball League early in 2012.
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LIPBL Final Rankings
Lamma Archers (blue) – champions
Gray Hawks (gray) – runner-up
Huggen D'ass (red) – second runner-up
Awesome Tigers (green) – third runner-up
Lamma Lickers (yellow) – fourth runner-up
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