04 April 2009

Japan 2009 cont.

Okay I know I haven't written in AGES and I apologize, but I am a huge procrastinator and after a while there was too much to have to write so I just kept putting it off. Make any sense? No, probably not. But here I am. One Sunday evening. Making a start on it. Im gunna blogg in parts to make continuity a bit easier for you to read :)

So where was I? Japan 2009.. Whoa, february was such a long time ago! (I've had to resort to reading my training diary for details of what happened. My memory sucks!)

19th Feb 2009 - Opening ceremony. Same old, same old. Teams are introduced one by one as we wheel from backstage onto the court. Then a whole HEAP of IWBF head honcho's make their speaches, welcoming us to Japan and to the Osaka Cup Friendship Games of 2009. Japanese speach then its english translation times about 6 times. Meanwhile, we are all watching the big screens above the court and wave stupidly when the camera goes on us.

(Dori, Kat and I with one of our team allocated helpers.)

We then have lunch. Sandwiches (no crust), orange juice popper (or fruit box, depending on the Australian state you live in) and a range of different and unknown things to eat.

(Sometimes the choice was rather easy to make - "neither")

We then watched the Japan vs. Canada game. Then it was time for our game against USA. Starters being Kylie, Tina, Dori (yeay!! first international game and starting!), Cobi, and myself. We won! Woo hoo! Congrats to John T. for his first international game as coach as well as first win as coach! We won by 19 points (HR Max 185, avg 136).

(Yeay for starting!)

20th Feb 2009 - Early start. Then a game against Canada. Starters: Kylie, Kat, Tina, Cobi and myself. Lost by 8 points. *sad face*

We then had lunch then had another game but against Japan. Starters: Katie, Cobi, Kylie, Kat and myself. We lost again. *sadder face*

BUT! We were still into the final. The top 3 teams all only won one game. And since we beat USA by such a high margin, we were able to get into the final.

(Coach coaching)

I was absolutely exhausted after that day. Im pretty sure I fell asleep on the couch where he held our team meeting. Early night to bed that night!

21st Feb 2009 - Final vs. Japan. Starters: Kylie, Cobi, Sarah, Bridie and myself. I was not subbed off. I played a full 40 minutes. I can't remember if thats ever happened before :P

We won! Can't remember the score. Check the Basketball Australia website if you want to know more stuff like stats and scores. But we won! Yeay! It was such an awesome way to start off 2009. New look Gliders and we are successful! I was so proud of everyone.

(2009 Osaka Cup winners - the Gliders!)

That night was the closing dinner. We played the "BINGO SHOOT!" game like we do every year. I was pleased to see the lasagne there again this year. Sooo good! There was also the usual free saki and Japanese beer, but I stuck with the whatever it was juice in the poppers/fruit boxes. I think it was orange juice. Think being the main word. I cant read Japanese yet.

(5 ways to win but still no bingo!)

Congrats to Kylie for making the All Star 5 and also to Cobi who was tournament MVP.

We then went back to our hotel and the celebrations continued. Canada and Australia mingled together, chatted, laughed, drank, ate. One by one we slowly went back to our rooms to pack and then go to bed but a few energentic individuals were able to stay up for a fair bit longer.

22nd Feb 2009 - Travel. It felt good to travel back to Australia as winners. But it also felt good to get back to the warmth that Perth was providing. It was sad though to have to say goodbye to Kat, knowing that I wouldnt see her for a couple months. Thanks Kat for my beautiful xmas present by the way! Love it!! I put it with all my other pictures of the special people in my life! (PS. I wear the UnderAmour all the time!)

(Dori, Sarah and I in front of the Japan Airlines Smile Suport counter :D )

Okay, just a note to finish off with. During the tournament in one of the games I got fouled off. I can't remember if it was the first or 2nd game that we played. I think it was the first game but not entirely sure. But anyway, there wasnt that much more time left in the 4th quarter. The girl I was defending had the ball but then lost control of it. As I was reaching to try get the ball (which was loose and near the side line) I think I chair fouled her. I felt extremely bad because due to classiication points, for me to come off meant that other Gliders had to be subbed off so we could put a different combination on court. So if your a Glider who was subbed off because of me being stupid and getting too many fouls, and if your reading then, then i'm sorry! I will try not be that stupid again..

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