KBBL Semifinals

Last Saturday, the Kumbento88 Rigmarolers-B lost to Batch 90, the very same team we beat in last season’s championship series.

We were outplayed, outhussled, outcheered, and even outdrummed by the same opponents we pulverized just a few months ago.

I arrived at the game late due to traffic in the Ortigas/Floodway area. The 3rd quarter of the semifinal game, where our team has a twice-to-beat advantage, was already well under way when I entered the PCC gym.

But it was not only me who arrived late during that game last Saturday. Our main big man, Chunky Ramos, also arrived late with the 3rd quarter already underway due to a previous commitment he had to attend to. (Note: Nagninong si Chunky sa kasal. Repeat: Nagninong, hindi nag-abay!)

It wouldn’t have been a big problem that Chunky was late for the game since the opponents were just leading by a very manageable margin by halftime. We could have easily overhauled that lead as we have previously done so in the past.

But the problem was the tournament committee refused to let Chunky play, citing a FIBA ruling that any player arriving at the game after the 1st half of play is not eligible to play for the remainder of the ballgame anymore.

This was the same committee which tolerated various violations in game schedules, player uniforms, and other trivial matters. This was a friendly tournament after all. Allowances were to be given to achieve the ultimate goal of the tournament, which is brotherhood.

But rules are rules, they say. We just did not want to argue further, or put the game under protest. All in the spirit of sportsmanship.

We lost the game. But Batch 90 did not beat us.

They cannot beat us when we are complete as a team – from the starters to the relievers, to the role players, to the coaching staff, and more importantly, to the numerous supporters showing our undying batch spirit.

They can once again bring on the drums this coming Saturday. We just have to bring the full force of Kumbento88 to drown out their beats.

We are the defending champions. No one can be louder. No one can be prouder.

Support you team! Be there at the PCC gym on Saturday, August 23, 2008, 7:30PM. No excuses for being late this time. Destiny will not wait for us.