The First Day Game: Bonn Remix vs. Frankfurt Thunders

Bonn Remix waiting for Torben prior to pictorial.

First day of the tournament is as stressful as any day we have experienced before. The eight am rendezvous with the Bonn Remix team mates came and go and we were still in Bonn. Good thing the 1 1/2 hour ride from Bad Godesberg Bonn to Frankfurt was enough to make it to the start of the 11th EPBC opening. Round about 11am, Nelson Enriquez, the head organizer, started the opening ceremony with the Philippine National Anthem. A non- Tagalog speaking Filipina singer from the group Down and Low gave her rendition.

Then our very own Sherwin Barrientos (Jersey #7) gave the opening prayer.

Sherwin Barrientos. 

Certain trepidations were voiced over prior to signing up for the game.

1. Unsafe court

Upon learning the venue of the tournament, its been voiced out that precaution should be taken coz of the slippery courts on this location. The team have played on the same place before and it had left not a good impression. Good thing something was probably done to improve the flooring. It was not as slippery as before but it was also a point of debate as to whether the kind of basketball shoes matter.

Lost and found. ;-)

Jordan 3 Flight

Lovely slippers! Proud to be made in the Phlippines (from eric).

2. Favoritism

We all suffer from this. But hearing it point blank from the commentators during finals is a no-no. Good thing the faux pax was not repeated in this tournament.

3. Biased Referees

There is no game without any bad call. Most of the time losers tend to sour grape. So instead of blaming oneself, we tend to blame the authorities. But watching some games made me realize that there was a number of real unworthy calls made. As a spectator, we can only shout "boo"!

You can hate or like them, but they are just doing their job.

4. Locality or just bad luck?

This is the second time in a tournament done in Frankfurt that we have seen a car having a window smashed in. Before, a car from the other team was vandalized and their overnight bags stolen. This time, it was our car. Nothing was stolen nor anyone was harmed. Just plain bad luck on our side I guess.

The whole rear window was gone.

Taped up as suggested by the polizei.

Here is an unedited video of the first game of Bonn Remix. After much delay, at 1:40pm, they faced Frankfurt Thunders. 

It was only this time upon editing that I realized that this was the same team they competed against in the championship.

It was an easy first game with 30 : 17 score.