'09 Basketball Tournament

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The game format was the same as the last five years. The whole tournament lasted for three days, from Wednesday to Friday. On the first day every team played two games each which resulted in the teams being ranked for the next day playoff games.  On the last day, the three point shootout, the juniors’ final and the varsity final were held. There were many surprises along the way. San Diego “Werrira” were definitely ready for the tournament. By the end of the first day it was apparent 2008 champions, Indiana Instant tax “Hagereseb”, had their hands full. They were ranked 6^th. The best two undefeated teams were Seattle “Znab” (1^st) and San Diego “Werrira” (2^nd). On the second day, DC “Dream Team” “Shden” came back with a vengeance and fought hard to stay in the tournament by winning against Fresno “shida” by 2points on over-time. They also won all their other games to get themselves a place in the finals. San diegoSeattle on the other hand won all their games and got themselves to the final. weren’t as lucky they won all their games except one, but that one loss was on the knockout stages. The higher point difference on their loss also meant that they can’t even make it to the Semi-final as the best losing team.

The last day of the tournament started with the closing game of the “best of three” series for junior varsity teams. JV San Diego “Deki Adi” snatched the championship from JV Houston “Anabs” by two points in the last minute. JV Coach of the year went to coach Hannibal Haile of San Diego team and JV MVP was Biniam Yohannes. Next came the long awaited, with full packed fans and spectators, varsity finals, between DC “Dream Team” “Shden” and Seattle “Znab”, and the three point shootout. If you look at the previous two days tournament records the undefeated,Seattle team, should win it hands down. But what followed was a bucket by bucket exchange, very tight, exciting game from starting jump-off till the game over whistle. It could have gone to anyone of the two teams. Everyone was on their feet just waiting for the time to run out. Such was the surprise that the undefeated Seattle couldn’t hold on and win the very game that matter the most. DC “Dream Team, Shden” won 89 to 88, by one point. Yonas Michael was the MVP of the tournament, and coach of the year went to Fithhawi Andemichael.

 The next Sports festival will be in Atlanta. I heard that the last time the sports festival was held in Atlanta there were 20 basketball teams in the tournament. So it would certainly be very exciting tournament, not to mention it would be ERSFNA’s 25^th year anniversary. There will be plans to hold basketball camps for the first two days for the local Eritrean kids. Those of you who are coaches, and would like to help out, please contact me on asmerom_a@hotmail.com. Well see you all in Atlanta. Don’t forget the dates of the sport festival this year is from 4^th to the 10^th of July.

Asmerom Abraha

Basketball and Track & Field coordinator
asmerom_a@hotmail.com