6 Reasons why Bonn Remix won the Championship

Bonn Remix after the winning game.

The huddle before winning.

In any game, the thought of competing is an honor in itself. To make it to the quarter finals is a breathtaking achievement. To qualify for the semi finals entitles you to relax for you made it to the top most level already. But to bag the championship trophy? That is a feat no words can explain. The exhilaration of winning is contagious that even the non-players can feel it.

For the Bonn Remix, this is the second time they went home with the championship trophy. It was a five year struggle but entirely worth it. Here's why:

How many trophies did Bonn Remix bag?

1. Perfect Selection of Players

See the Formidable 10 article. Click here. There is just equal amount of players on each five key position to fill in. One can easily tag their substitute for a breather.

Phil Gonzales

I stand corrected. "Get pumped! Get pumped!" Peejay Barrientos

Two of three Barrientos, Sherwin (L) and Peejay (R).

Winning smile by Ron Tropel.

Ariel Santos minus the towel.

Eric "The Elbow" Zulueta.

Edgar Flores

Robin Perez

Torben Barrientos

Aaron Salangsang

2. A Valuable Team Captain

Thanks to his persistence in selecting players, organizing and team spirit, he was able to unite players from different stations. Truly a most valuable player in and out the court.

MVP Awardee Sherwin Barrientos

3. Unexpected Coach

Players came in batches and each having friends with them. Although there was supposed to be a meeting place in Bad Godesberg, Bonn, we still don't know who will be part of the teams support group. Bonn Remix unexpected coach was actually a Dutch visiting Bonn for work purposes. He was a surprisingly ego booster for the group with his quick wit and easy smile not to mention a great fondness for the song "Careless Whisper". He was able to fool most talking to him in German with his nodding and "ja" responses though he has no idea what they were talking about. It was fun having you Rommel Borlongan with the team. Hope you could coach next tournament as well.

The Coach - Rommel Borlongan

Rommel Borlongan from Holland.

4. Magnanimous Manager

It is hard to find a manager as most cases of the tournaments the team has done. And yet, time and again, this silent manager raised on the occasion. We are grateful for his relentless support though he himself is from Frankfurt. You always astound us with your generosity!

Renato Kaminsky, Manager - Bonn Remix

5. Supportive Foster Family

Its not easy having a stressful tiring day and camping out for the night for yet another day of basketball. Having a second foster family away from Bonn made a big difference. It is not the first time the family Kaminsky had opened their humble abode for the Bonn players to bunk in. They have continually proven that they can be counted on such matters. Being welcomed and treated as part of a family is quite overwhelming. Their hospitality is second nature that you would doubt if they are not 100% Pinoy. Kudos!

Family bonding is very important for the Kaminsky family.

Waiting for the next game.

6. Hearty Appetite

The appetite to play a good game, have fun, befriend someone and just plainly gastronomical appetite.;-)  After all, they are just boys trapped in a mans body.

Hanging out at Burger King.

Basketball fever is nice being shared by the whole family.

Hermann Tropel and wife Andrea.

Idol Tropel

Burger King models. ;-)

Ron playing with the straws.

The MVP and Captain - Sherwin Barrientos

O! Bakit Mcdo ito???

How many can you eat?

Loads more to go!

Bonn Remix: Basketball Position Selection

Bonn Remix in Frankfurt, Germany

The three basketball positions normally employed by organized basketball teams are guard, forward, and center. More specifically, they can be classified into the five positions: point guard, shooting guard, forward, power forward, and center. The rules of basketball do not mandate them, and in informal games they are sometimes not used. They are grouped into two conceptual units: the backcourt and frontcourt.

Bonn Remix with Eric Zulueta for round-robin.

Five Basketball Positions:

Point guard (PG), also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, they are expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right players at the right time. Above all, the point guard must totally understand and accept his or her coach's game plan; in this way, the position can be compared to a quarterback in American football.

Phil Gonzales on round-robin.

Sherwin Barrientos on round-robin.

The shooting guard (SG), also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team. Some teams ask their shooting guards to bring up the ball as well; these players are known colloquially as combo guards. Dwyane Wade, for example, is a shooting guard who is as good a playmaker as he is a scorer; other examples of combo guards are Jamal Crawford of the Atlanta Hawks, Allen Iverson, and Jason Terry. A player who can switch between playing shooting guard and small forward is known as a swingman.

Phil Gonzales on the move.

Notable shooting guards include current NBA players Ray Allen, Manu Ginóbili, Vince Carter, Joe Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Richard "Rip" Hamilton, Michael Redd,Brandon Roy, and former NBA stars Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler, Sam Jones, Earl Monroe, Reggie Miller, Penny Hardaway, Jerry West and John Havlicek.

Peejay Barrientos for a lay-up.

The (small) forward, also known as the "3", is typically somewhat shorter, quicker and leaner than power forwards and centers. Thus, in the NBA, small forwards range from 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) to 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 m). The small forward position is considered to be perhaps the most versatile of the main five basketball positions, due to the nature of its role, which is sometimes similar to that of a power forward, and other times more resembles the role of a shooting guard. The small forward and shooting guard positions are often interchangeable.

Bonn Remix in action.

Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low blocks". They typically play offensively with their backs to the basket and position themselves defensively under the basket in a zone defense or against the opposing power forward in man-to-man defense. The power forward position entails a variety of responsibilities. Many power forwards are noted for their mid-range jump-shot, and several players have become very accurate from 12 to 18 feet (3.7 to 5.5 m). These skills are more typically exhibited in the European style of play.

Robin Perez waiting for the ball.

The center, colloquially known as the five or the pivot, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well. A typical NBA center is 6'10" (2.08 m) or taller.

Aaron Salangsang as one of the team's Center.

In many cases, the center's primary role is to use his or her size to score and defend from a position close to the basket. A center who possesses size along with athleticism and skill constitutes an unparalleled asset for a team. The centers are also generally the players who are chosen to take jump balls.

Aaron Salansang in action.

Want to make a good team? Then know your positions and make sure you have a substitute for each.

Formidable 10: Bonn Remix May 2011

Our home country has an extensive campaign of keeping juvenile delinquents out of the street by engaging them in sport activities. Here in Bonn Germany, such campaign is not needed for sports is a reprieve after a tiring week long job. It is the time to socialize and meet up with "kababayans" (fellow citizen - thanks eric for the translation!), as well as to just be "Pinoy".

National Basketball Categories

Philippines has PBA (Philippine Basketball League; USA have NBA (National Basketball Association): Germany has BBL (Basketball Busdesliga).

Pinoy Bonn Basketball Teams: Bonn Remix and Tropang Bonn

Basketball is still part of the Pinoy blood. Every year, a number of organizations hosts basketball tournament in different cities in Germany. Bonn sent representatives time and again to Frankfurt, Essen, even Meckenheim and once in Geneva, Switzerland. Two teams represents the Pinoy community in Bonn: Tropang Bonn and Bonn Remix. Players on both teams sometimes join together to make a much stronger union.

Bonn Remix Family at the 11th EPBC, Frankfurt Germany

The Formidable 10

Last weekend, April 30 - May 1, Bonn Remix played on the second basketball tournament hosted this year. Nelson Enriquez (N2A) organized the 11th European Pinoy Basketball Challenge (EPBC) where a new selection of Bonn Remix players ruled the game.

1. Robin Perez (#1)

The youngest among the selection with mix Batangas and Pampanga parentage. He may be muscled up but he can move. See him dribble the ball, do a fast 360 degree turn and shoot with a fade away move.

Robin Perez
Jersey Number: #1
Position: Offguard
Height: 5'9*

2. Torben Barrientos (#4)

One of the original players way back when it was called "Cavitenos". No Bonn Remix game will be complete without him. He may be late in arriving in open ceremonies (even group picture taking), but you can always feel his presence on court.

Torben Barrientos
Jersey Number: #4
Position: Offguard
Height:  5'8 *

3. Peejay Barrientos (#6)

The second Barrientos in the group. This English speaking power forward is a recruit from the army team K-Town. He maybe serious on court, but off court, he is just full of energy chanting "hip hop! hip hop!" or was it "keep up! keep up!"?

Peejay Barrientos
Jersey Number: #6
Position: Power Forward
Height: 6'2*

4. Sherwin Barrientos (#7)

The team captain and founder of Bonn Remix. He too was from the defunked team Cavitenos. He started the Bonn Remix team five years ago and now currently bagging the second championship trophy with him earning Most Valuable Player award. This Barrientos is famous for his assists and three point shootings.

Sherwin Barrientos
Jersey Number: #7
Position: Point Guard
Height: 5'9*

5. Phil Gonzales (#10)

This Cebuano can steal and run plus make a perfect perimeter shot. He deftly maintains his weight as per advice of his grandfather who survived two world wars by being able to run fast. "Wag kang magpapataba para makatakbo ka ng mabilis pag me gyera" (don't eat too much so as not to gain weight that way you can run fast when theres a war), his grandfather said.

Phil Gonzales
Jersey Number: 10
Position: Point Guard
Height: 5'7*

6. Edgar Flores (#11)

This Kapampangan used to compete in basketball even in Philippines. Watch out for he can easily penetrate under the hoop even with three opponents against him, make a shot and garner a foul counted.

Edgar Flores
Jersey Number: #11
Position: Center
Height: 6ft*

7. Aaron Salangsang (#13)

The silent recruit from Wuppertal and the tallest in the team. I remember watching him play against the team in one of the tournaments done in Essen. I hate it when our team fouls him for he can easily make those free throws count. Now, I'm glad he is part of the team for he can readily do those rebounds and perimeter shots, not to mention his big help in defense.

Aaron Salangsang
Jersey Number: #13
Position: Center
Height: 6'2*

8. Ariel Santos (#14)

Another Kapampangan that you will not see without E. Flores. Don't be fooled with his F4 haircut (or is it Justin Bieber) for he is part of the first five with his good defense and assist moves.

Ariel Santos
Jersey Number: #14
Position: Forward
Height: 5'9* 

9. Ron Tropel (#18)

A Bicolano who always do his homework before any tournament by watching his favorite NBA team the night before. See him do those moves while maintaining his cool.

Ron Tropel
Jersey Number: #18
Position: Point Guard
Height: 5'6*

10. Eric Zulueta (#22)

One of the first five and definitely always the first to gain a foul among the team. He is a master in rebound and in getting someone knocked over. Can't forget the time wherein 4 players, him included, scrambled to get the ball and three of them toppling one over the other flat on ground with him running away unscathed.

Eric Zulueta
Jersey Number: #22
Position: Forward / Power Forward
Height: 5'11

Bonn Remix. Will this be the last time this whole selection will play together? Hopefully not. Let's find out on the next tournament this July.

* Height estimates

Huddle before a game - Bonn Remix.