By John Cairns (Photos by Chun Yin Wah)
YUNG SHUE WAN, Lamma Island, Hong Kong – A day that could have clarified much in the Lamma Island Pinoy Basketball League (LIPBL) revealed little – except that maybe Mother Nature has less fondness for basketball than many Lamma Islanders do.
On September 25, drizzle turned into rain early in the first of two scheduled LIPBL games at Yung Shue Wan's outdoor basketball court. With the wet playing surface turning dangerous for players likely to slip, slide and fall, maybe suffering twisted ankles or other injuries, the referees halted play.
Eager players tried to mop up the court, but more water fell. A clever fan sent the gods a blunt message by chalking a beaming sun onto the playing surface, but they took no notice.
After a 15-minute wait, league officials suspended action for the day. At the time, the Lamma Archers (blue) held a slim lead, 20-18, on the Lamma Lickers (yellow). Action will resume on October 2 with the teams re-starting at 0-0.
The suspended contests would have separated rivals in the crowded standings. Both the Archers (0-2) and Lickers (0-1) want their first win. The other postponed game, also reset for October 2, pits the Gray Hawks (2-0) against Huggen D’ass (1-0) with the winner to stand alone in first place.
Action before the rain made an interesting spectacle of speed against size. The fleet-footed Archers rely on agility and fast breaks while the Lickers are taller, burlier and better shot-blockers. Which side wins? Fans must wait a week to know, but the Archers looked rather impressive.
Admittedly, rainouts rarely affect most basketball leagues. Usually they hamper other sports, like baseball or tennis. But in the LIPBL, weather-worries add an extra dimension to the entertainment.
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LIPBL Standings
Gray Hawks (gray) – 2 wins, 0 losses
Huggen D’ass (red) – 1 win, 0 losses
Awesome Tigers (green) – 1 win, 1 loss
Lamma Archers (blue) – 0 wins, 1 loss
Lamma Lickers (yellow) – 0 wins, 2 losses
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