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Greatest game ever? Relive St. Paul/FD in streaming video
I remember the 1991 high school boys basketball season vividly. Then a junior at Sanchez High, each week I'd read, watch, and cringe in sinful envy over the exploits of that year's Father Duenas Friars. Led by John Sgro, J. Onedera, Richard Ybanez, Harry Chang and Shawn Leon Guerrero, I witnessed with jaw-dropped amazement game in and game out just how damn good they were. In a small community like Guam's, that's rare.
And for that very reason, significant.
They not only dispatched every team they faced locally in dramatic fashion, but achieved the rarified feat of being a Guam team to win the Far East Basketball Tournament, in which Leon Guerrero, an all-island forward who had earlier suffered a catastrophic eye injury, hit the winning shot in the title game. They stand as one of the greatest teams ever in the long, storied tradition of FD sports (a school historically known for its gridiron exuberance).
Further, many consider the '91 Friars to be the greatest team in Guam high school hoops history, and I won't argue to the contrary. But after this past Tuesday, they might have competition.
Earlier this week KUAM did a live broadcast of the 2006 IIAAG Boys Basketball Championship Game pitting this year's Friars against the defending champion St. Paul Warriors. I did color commentary for our coverage and consider myself fortunate to have just watched the game live, much less have presented it to the island (and through our exclusive webcast, the rest of the world).
The Warriors were down to a very tough FD squad by 15 points at halftime 23-8, but then came storming back to send the game into overtime, tying the contest at 50. Unfortunately, they couldn't contain FD center Rob Leon Guerrero and lost 63-55. Up to that point, they were undefeated.
After congratulating Friars head coach Tony Thompson and several of his players, who justifiably celebrated their huge upset victory, I felt compelled to also have a word with the losing team, which was visibly devastated after putting up such a valiant effort to mount such a monster comeback and then come up short. I told them that despite having to face the pain of not winning, they earned something more valuable - respect - from the hundreds in attendance at the UOG Field House, from the tens of thousands more who watched our telecast live, and from the countless scores of those who'll stream our webcast in perpetuity. Fans who had been cheering against St. Paul - passionately booing every free throw and applauding every missed shot - had still given their effort a standing ovation in what was one of the best local games you'll ever see.
I told the young Warriors to remember that distinct achievement and the moment, because they'd be able to carry both with them the rest of their lives. It surely hurts - the bittersweet irony of a moral victory; the hubris of the defeated. They were boys that played like men. They almost did the impossible and gained glory much more meaningful than a "W". Respect.
St. Paul head coach Neo Pineda told me in a post-game interview that he's worked with Tony Thacker, Tyler Smith, Art Hameister and the other members of the Class of '06 since they were in middle school. Much like the '91 Friars, the boys spent their years growing and playing together. He graciously answered all questions I bounced off of him about strategy, what he told the boys during halftime to get back in the game; and how Smith, the team captain who hit three huge 3-pointers in the pivotal second half to get the Warriors back in the game, kept his teammates' spirits up.
It wasn't until my last query that Pineda hesitated, choking up with emotion. I said that undoubtedly he'd had an impact on the lives of his players, but then asked what the unique group of seniors had meant for him personally. Ever classy, he responded by saying that it's he who's truly blessed by the experience, and that he's learned so much more about basketball because of their participation. Nice.
So hats off to FD for dethroning a juggernaut and adding to an impressive legacy. Friar friends, family and alumni have earned yet another banner to hang in what's perhaps the island's most prestigious trophy case. Because they surely didn't have it handed to them. But for the seniors at St. Paul, the small Christian school in Harmon that's only been in the league for a few years but already established itself as a formidable powerhouse, they've made their mark.
And both teams made history.
Watch KUAM's exclusive streaming webcast of this year's IIAAG championship game by clicking here, or clicking here
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