September 6, 2009
PBL Glendale Heights did a very commendable
job of hosting the 5th FBA- NA Tournament it was well run and the atmosphere was pleasant. The opening was great
with Dickey Simpkins (a 3 time NBA Champion with Chicago Bulls) and Abe King (former PBA great with 13 PBA championships under
his belt and the founder of PBA Legends USA) were the guest speakers. There were multiple close games and overtime games.
The competition was its highest with all teams giving all their got like there's no tomorrow. The closing ceremony and banquet
will be remembered and talked about for a long time, it was the most elegant and very professional in all levels.
It was held at the Grand Ravinia Ballroom at Westin North Shore with almost 1800 in attendance. It was classic and at it's
best. The "WOW" effect was at the event like a grand one. They did something unthinkable that nobody thought
they can pulled it off and possible. We Salute You, PBL Glendale Heights!!!
Tykes:
Runner up - Toronto
Champion - Mississauga
MVP.....Carlo Dubria
Peewee:
Runner up - Winnipeg
Champion - Toronto
MVP.....Spencer Pallobelo
Bantam:
Runner up - Winnipeg
Champion - Glendale Heights
MVP.....Marcus Aluquin
Girls:
Runner up - Winnipeg
Champion - Vaughan
MVP.....Samantha Nicdao
Midget:
Runner up - Winnipeg
Champion - Chicago
MVP.....Andrew Hermogino
Ladies:
Runner up - Glendale Heights
Champion - Chicago
MVP.....Clarita Flores
Senior:
Runner up - Toronto
Champion - Chicago
MVP.....Bobby Rezek
Masters:
Runner up - Chicago
Champion - Glendale Heights
MVP.....Florante Gomez
Juvenile:
Runner up - Vaughan
Champion - Glendale Heights
MVP.....Mark Siwa
Men's Open
Runner up - Toronto
Champion - Winnipeg
MVP.....Ryan Capina
It was a repeat championship match-up that we saw last year at Winnipeg,
a great game and a chance for the "Blue Men Group of the Peg City" Winnipeg to be the 2nd back 2 back champion with Team
Houston pulling the trick on 2005 and 2006. This will also give the "Black and Gold big guns of the City from Above" 25 FOR
LIFE (Phil-Can Toronto) another chance to redeem themselves to capture the glory that they eluded them last year close loss
to Winnipeg.
The game is set and Phil-Can Toronto jumped out to an early lead , 14-5
and forced Winnipeg to call timeout early and a key substitution, the guys in blue (Winnipeg) calmed down and was able to
even up the game at 38-38. In the 2nd half it was a see-saw affair as both teams traded basket after basket to the delight
of the crowd. Then in the last minutes of the game, the blue men group of Peg City able to seizes control of the game
with their bruising physical play in interior and build a 6 points lead with less than a minute left. It didn't look good
for the black and gold of the city from above but good teams will always find ways to come back and win games. JP Albano hit
a big 3 to cut the lead to 3 and in the ensuing possession a Peg missed a one on one that open up the door for the city from
above. James Forrester inbounded the ball to Dean Lebayen who hurriedly brought the ball upcourt and found JR Manlucu beyond
the stripes a last-second 3 point attempt as he hoisted but had to double-clutch the shot over the outstretched
arm of a Peg defender. It seemed like an eternity for the ball to through the hoop as the time expired to force
overtime. The Phil-Can Toronto stormed the court but realized that they just force overtime and another 3 minutes of
basketball game.
In overtime a Peg player hit a 3 at the start that they never look back as they
took control of the game enroute to their back 2 back title and Phil-Can Toronto has to settle for 2nd place 2 years
in a row.
The whole OPEN competition this year was best the since it's inception. The 2-time Champion Team Houston found themselves
outside looking in as their 2 losses humbled the team and in no doubt will re-group for next year. While the one time champion
the so called dream team from the most powerful city of the world, DC ended in a nightmare as they loss 2- 1 point game
to Team Houston in the winners bracket and got upset from the up and coming team from Chi- Town in a losers bracket respectively
that it will haunt them till the next FBA- NA Tournament. The rest like Glendale Heights and Windsor were a much improved
team with New York and New Jersey will have their sights on to rebound in the next tournament. It can't get any better than
this and next year's compettition will be a lot better as all teams will continue to add pieces to wrestle the crown from
the "Blue Men Group of the Peg City" as the road to the title must go through to Winnipeg once again.
September 04, 2009
FBA-NA Annual Meeting will be held at the city
of Mississauga, Ontario Canada sometimes on April 2010.
2007-2009
We would like
to thank the following outgoing officials for a great job and support that they rendered during their
tenure:
Commissioner -
Mr. Ben Libao of Chicago
Deputy Commissioner
of USA - Mr Ken Mendoza of Washington DC
Deputy Commissioner
of Canada - Mr. Ed Semira of Toronto
2009-2011 Congratulations to the newly elected officials:
Commissioner - Mr. Ed Semira of Toronto
Deputy Commissioner
of USA - Mr. Robert Reyes of Glendale Heights
Deputy
Commissioner of Canada - Mr. Manny Aranez of Winnipeg
See you all in Mississauga, Ontario Canada on
September 4 & 5, 2010.
