I'm a basketball purist. I believe a team doesn't have to have superhuman
athletes to win. It only requires the simple pieces. After all, basketball is a
team game. This story happened a long time ago. I only remembered it after a
short vacation back home.
One morning I was shooting around in the basketball court near our house. I
was there for quite a while when 3 kids joined me. We shot around a little and
then this little kid asked me if I wanted to play 3-on-3. It was bold of the
kid to ask. This kid was just a little over my waistline and, based on the way
he and his friends shot around, they know how to play. Imitating "Kobe" moves the best
they could, they tried to show off and outdo each other even as we were
discussing the terms. The three kids shared the same skin tone. You can easily
tell they played a lot of basketball.
For the sake of telling this story, I will call these guys KB1, 2, and 3. I
mean no disrespect to the great player that they were trying to imitate. I
assure you that I have nothing but respect for that guy.
KB1 was small but quick for his age and size. He was probably Grade 3 or 4
that time. He has not fully mastered his fundamentals but he got by with what
skills he had back then. KB1 talked a lot, a real smarty-pants. He was the one
trying to make me agree for a quick game.
KB2 was probably 2 years older and 3-4 inches taller than KB1. He was a more
improved version of KB1. By "more improved", I mean he was KB1, but
older and more skillful.
KB3 was probably a year older and a few inches taller than KB2. The kid was
almost stood almost at the same height as my shoulder. He didn't have the same
baller skills as the other two KBs but he was tall and can jump high.
Seeing that the three of them will still be at a disadvantage, KB1 set some
restrictions for me. I was forbidden to jump. Yes, my feet should not leave the
ground. I was not allowed to drive to the hoop, shoot inside the painted area,
and block shots. I should only stand up when I want to rebound the ball. No
pushing was allowed.
I didn't really have a choice. It was not a negotiation. :) What these kids
didn't know was that I already scouted them up during the shoot around. They
all acted like stars, like the ones they see on top 10 plays, All-stars games,
etc. They were young, naive, and foolish even.
I still had one problem, or two. I did not have my team mates yet.
I looked around for kids who wanted to play ball with us. Out of the mess of
children running that time, there were two kids in the bench, watching us shoot
around. These two looked like chumps, the type that just sneaked out of eating
breakfast. I was afraid that their angry mothers would come yelling at them to
go back home. The 3 kids were scrawny, with heights as tall as KB2, and
probably belonged to the same age bracket. Let's label them Scrawny Chomps1 and
2 (SC1 and SC2).
SC1 and SC2 looked like identical twins at first glance. They both had
clean, goody-two-shoes kind of hair cuts. Both wore white sando's, which probably
doubles as undershirts for school. I remember seeing SC1 shoot the ball before.
Even when he was little, he was an enthusiast. I knew he knows his basics. As
for SC2, I was not so sure. It was the first time I saw him on the court.
Judging by how the two SCs looked at the 3 KBs, the two SCs knew who those 3
KBs were. Too bad for me, I can't say that the 3 KBs knew who my team mates
were.
The Game was set (3-6-9). Losers will have to crawl inside the "tunnel".
KB1 "miss"ed the ball and missed but still insisted that they should
have first possession of the ball since they were at a disadvantage.
The ball was checked. KB2 easily used his quick step past SC1 and drove to
the basket (1-0). While KB3, the tallest of the 5 kids, was bodying up for the
potential rebound. My SCs were dominated on the first play alone.
When it was our ball, I was the only one available to call plays. SC1 and
SC2 were lost. They didn't know what they gotten themselves into.
The defense strategy of the 3 KBs was practical. KB1 defended me because he
was more defensively expendable while KB2 and KB3 remained near the rim to
prevent my team mates from suddenly scoring. Since I can't run with the ball, I
just stood there dribbling at the top of the key while KB1 was trying his best
to push me or steal the ball from my hand. I noticed something strange, SC1 and
SC2 were standing frozen, waiting for my next move, probably hoping I will do a
quick step and drive. So I told them, "Move! Run from side to side!".
SC1 ran to the left side. Now I got 2 players on the weak side. I asked SC2,
"Fill the space here. Always maintain the balance on the floor!". SC2
ran. Naturally, their defenders followed as they move.
We were back to square one. The 2 SCs were frozen again. Then I told them
not to stop moving and maintain the floor spaced, like a triangle. They started
moving back and forth with eyes fixed at me. After a few runs, KB2 and KB3 got
tired of chasing them and let them have their way.
BIG MISTAKE! As soon as I saw SC1 will have a space to shoot, I made a
bounce pass. SC1 caught the ball and shot it in 1 rhythm. His shot went in
(1-1).
I went to give high fives to both SCs for the nice play and for their effort.
The possession of the ball was with our opponents. I stood beside KB3
underneath the rim while we let KB1 and KB2 play SC1 and SC2. I told my team
mates to apply man-to-man defense. Although it seemed like a losing effort, SC1
and SC2 chased after the 2 KBs like rabid dogs. With one quick step from KB2, the
2 SCs were left out, straggling. Standing near the hoop, I raised my hand
straight waiting on how KB2 will finish his layup. I knew most of the kids
practice only the dominant-hand-side layups and finish in one manner so I waited
for a miss. The miss came and I got the rebound without any effort. The ball
landed on my hands. I walked to the top of the key again.
I asked SC1 and 2 to move again. This time, I moved along with them. When I
moved to my right, I waited for 2-3 cuts in the middle and move to my left
where I waited for the next chance. As soon as I saw SC2 cutting, I threw
another bounce pass and he was able to make a 1 dribble spot shot (1-2).
Congratulatory high fives later, we started defending again.
KB1 was blaming KB2 and KB3 for not defending properly.KB2 and KB3 were
blaming each other. At this point, they were pressured to score on the next
possession. As soon as the ball was checked, SC1 ran to the hoop. He missed, in
all his superstar complexes. One of my team mates rebounded the ball and again
I went to the top of the key to facilitate things.
Understanding what they needed to do, SC1 and SC2 were cutting tirelessly on
the middle while maintaining some space for the triangle and which is still
within their offensive comfort zones. All KBs and SCs can shoot perimeter
jumpers but those shots were not as reliable as the ones taken inside the
paint. It got really interesting because when I walked my way to the left side
and managed to pass the ball to one of the SCs but was guarded well. These KBs
didn't want to lose. I asked for the ball again and walked to the other side. I
gave the ball to SC1 at the top of the key, told him to stay there, and then
went to the painted area. I quickly asked the ball from SC1. To my surprise, as
soon as he passed the ball, he ran towards the basket :) I touch-passed the
ball to him and he scored his layup (1-3).
After our high fives, we made the KBs crawl inside the tunnel. I saw that my
team mates were pleased with what they accomplished while the KBs were really
disappointed with each other.
Another check ball. KB3 then got the ball and overpowered SC1 and SC2 in the
paint (2-3). Given his size advantage, it was not hard for KB3 to do so.
On our next possession, I stood at the top of the key while my cutters were
doing their thing. Since they were now defended properly, I asked SC2 to curl
over where I stood. He did. His defender followed him and went over my location
as well. This gave SC2 room to run. I gave him the ball which he finished with
another layup (2-4).
We tried several combinations of this play. Me at the top of the key while
either one curled and ran. It was beautiful basketball. Everything was
spontaneous from back cuts, curls, and touch passes. SC1 and SC2 were sharing
the basketball even without me telling them to do so. They finally realized how
they were supposed to play and were moving in auto-pilot.
What really surprised me was when KB3 wanted to block shots either SC will
do a shot fake and pass the ball. I can probably recall most of the details of
the plays but long story short, the game finished with a score of 5-9. My
stats? 0 points, 1 attempt. :) Scoring credits goes to those 2 SCs. We had some
misses but each play was special. They were quick and witty. They followed
directions and learned from each mistake. I was really proud of those scrawny
kids. For sure they were also proud of themselves when they went home. After
all, how often do you beat your everyday playground KBs?
A few years later, I was able to catch a practice game in our
barangay. I saw SC1 play. He was the snappiest one on the court. His
fundamentals were sound. He grew a lot, still skinny, barely in his 2nd year of
college. I felt a little bit of pride to see that kid succeed in what he loves
to do. I'd like to think that he wanted to show off his moves after he
recognized me from the bleachers. When he made nice plays, he'd look towards
the bleachers, subtly looking for approval - a silent whisper saying "did
you see what I can do now?".
Maybe someday we'll be able to play as team mates again, probably, when I go
back home for good.
