7.29.98

Game 1. 4 on 4 halfcourt. 12-10

"Father", Mario, I, Steve versus Chi, Luong, Bill, Loi

I don’t know why but Loi brought 2 girls to watch the game.

"Father" on Loi. I on Luong. Steve on Chi. Mario on Bill. Vice versa.

I shot 2 3 pointers which luckily hit the backboard to come in, and one of them was the game winner. Chi wasn’t shooting that well also. Loi was hitting a couple of shots. "Father" also had some open shots which he made.

Game 2. 5 on 5. 15-11

"Father", Mario, Chi, I, Steve versus Bill, Loi, Chris, Joseph, Joseph’s brother

"Father" on Loi. Chi on Chris. Mario on Joseph’s brother. I on Luong. Steve on Joseph’s brother.

Vice versa except Luong guard Steve and Joseph’s brother guard me.

I shot a 3 pointer on a fast break. I also shot from the free throw line. I did a fast break lay-up. On a fast break with "Father", I passed to him but he passed the ball back, and I settled for a shot in the box. But the best thing I did was when I was alone against 3 people on fast break. I think Joseph’s brother passed to Loi who then passed it to Chris and then I was able to hit the ball out of Chris’s hand as he attempted a lay-up, initializing a fast break the other direction. However I was being smoldered by their defense at one point of time and threw the ball away accidentally.

Game 3. 4 on 4 halfcourt. 15-13

Luong, Mario, Chi, I vs. Joseph, Joseph’s brother, Chris, Steve

Loi had left before Game 3 started, with his girls. "Father" also left with his daughter.

I on Joseph’s brother. Mario on Chris. Chi on Joseph. Luong on Steve.

I started the game with a long 3 pointer. However, I was unable to hit those again. Joseph’s brother was able to get a lot of rebounds over me this game. Chi hit the crucial last point, which was a quick turnaround and then a jumper. Joseph did the same thing as yesterday! He spun without looking and his forehead against collided against my upper lip. My teeth were stunned again, but for only a couple minutes, as it wasn’t as bad as yesterday.

Game 4. 4 on 4 halfcourt. 15-12

Luong, Mario, Bill, I vs. Joseph, Joseph’s brother, Chris, Steve

I on Joseph’s brother. Mario on Joseph. Bill on Steve. Luong on Chris.

Vice versa except Joseph’s brother guard Luong, Joseph guard me.

I missed all my three pointers, maybe 4 or 5, and in fact didn’t score this game. Whenever I got passed my man, I get fouled in the hands. Fortunately Mario and Luong hit many crucial 3 pointers. Also, Bill was able to keep on driving into the traffic, often getting fouled and the shot still going in. I made a critical save which set up Mario for a 3 pointer. We passed a lot during this game, confusing their defense, setting up someone for an open 3. Our defense was really nice too because we kept on switching man whenever that was needed. They on the other hand didn’t really have team defense. All the shots they made were shots that they really earned it because of our defense.

Notes.

The games weren’t bad, nor they were really good. All the games I played, I though we would win. I must get used to the situation where I am stuck while bringing the ball up. I mustn’t panic when I get surrounded by people in places not near the basket. Because of that I threw the ball away during Game 2. Mario told me that I should just hold the ball tightly and wait for help to arrive. Chris must not have been happy with his teams, as he was the primarily person playing defense, especially in Game 3 and 4. Joseph already rarely passes, except to his brother. Steve wasn’t a presence in those games and Chris was certainly not an offensive presence. Joseph’s brother was better. He couldn’t really shoot the ball or drive because I was guarding him tightly. Thus he pass the ball to other people, but still, his primary target was his brother. His brother did most of the scoring for his team. My team always won because we simply had better team defense. Oh yes, I think I’m beginning to earn more and more trust from Mario because he’s letting me bring the ball down most of the time. I’m also getting more gutsy in shooting the 3, especially on that fast break where the chance for rebound would be extremely hard.