When the Ateneo Basketball League opened in 2001, twenty six teams joined and three divisions were formed. Our barkada, a collection of true blue basketball afficionados and critics joined the for fun division. Unfortunately for two consecutive years we lost out in the semifinals. Yeah it was for fun but how the games were played were not. At that point most of us were not in good condition and were saddened by the loss. It is in this league that Ateneans take basketball seriously. Our team is one of the remaining pioneers of the ABL - Team Panlilio.
The last five years I have not been quite as active in playing basketball because of the demands of my work. From competitive basketball I have digressed into a REAL for fun cager. My weight is now a factor and my only saving grace is my spunk, determination and intermittent shooting prowess. This year I am glad to be invited to join Team Panlilio again, not as one of the top guns like nine years ago but as part of the bench, reliever, and motivator of the team. Team Panlilio opened with us playing Team Chee Kee (Hi Mrs. Chee Kee) a team composed of friends one batch below. Team Chee Kee is the GAHASA barkada way back in college and their most fearsome weapon in covered courts sensation and high scoring ABL player Ricci Javier.Other reliable players include sweet shooting Jay Fusana and bull strong Ed Abalo, inside operator Lawrence Sanchez and lanky Dennis Ampil.
The game started with Team Panlilio having only seven players - the hardworking Jun Castro, the three point specialist Bong Berbano, creative operator Dino Ponce Enrile, the swashbuckling Jerome Buhay and the youngest team member and the one we always want to take the lead in running for fastbreaks - Dato Arroyo. Me and Marvin Tiburcio sat on the bench just in case someone is tired and needs to rest. Then after the first quarter the reinforcements came in Jonjie Deomano, Peter Gonzalez and Dennis Manalo.
The team's offense started flat with Team Cheekee going exclusively to Ricci Javier who scored the teams's 8 of their first ten points. Team Panlilio was quite tentative on offense and was in disarray in defense. This lack of luster from our team opened up a 16 deficit and the half ended with us down 22-37. The other team members who arrived warmed up and we devised a plan to stop their offense and give our team more chances to score. The ploy worked as Peter Gonzalez ignited a 7-0 run and the Team Panlilio offense was back to business. The Team defense on Ricci Javier also worked as he was frustrated in getting the ball and covered by at least two men whenever he tried to score. This resulted in a stunning reversal of fortunes.
It was like a storybook ending to a championship match. Unfortunately it was just the start of the season for Team Panlilio whose second half defensive clamp on Team Cheekee's star forward Ricci Javier made them overcome a 16 point first half lead to give Team Panlilio a rousing 62-49 victory. Peter Gonzalez led Team Panlilio with 17 points while inside penetator Jun Castro contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds while Dato Arroyo chipped in 15. Ricci Javier led all scorers with 24 points. A good start always points to a good season, I just hope we can sustain this run.
