The stage was set. After all we'd been through we only had to win two of our last four games to make the playoffs. After all the long bus trips, close games lost, and the misfortune, we still had a chance to make it. However, three of the last four were on the road, and we all know about our road woes. We definitely had support from everyone in the city though. As we were leaving there was a huge crowd of people gathered, cheering and chanting, and wishing us good luck in our upcoming battles.
Last week Friday we played a team all the way in the north of Argentina, so it was hot! But no worries, the gym we were to play in was one of the nicest gyms in Argentina and it had air conditioning...or so I thought. Now the gym has air conditioning, but for some reason they did not have it on when we played. It was actually the hottest gym I have ever played in; as soon as I stepped on the court I was in a full sweat. Now when I play basketball I usually have one goal in mind: to win. That day I had two: to win and to survive.
Despite those obstacles, we started of the game very well, and even had a 22 point lead in the first half. Then fatigue started to kick in. 22 became 19, 17, 13, 9... all the way until with about a minute left in the game they took their first lead in the game. Very next possession, BOOM, slam dunk from yours truly. Now we are up one and just need one more stop to do the improbable. Sure enough, we force them into a turnover and win the game!!! HUGE win. Some of my teammates and the coaches were jumping around celebrating the victory. Some were even sliding on the floor! But I was wayyyy too tired from sweating so much, but I accomplished my two goals: to win and to survive.
Now we only needed one more. Unfortunately we came up short last week Sunday, but we knew we had a home game coming up so we were not discouraged.
Friday. Biggest game of the year. We win and we are in. You know how they say a picture is worth a thousand words? Well...
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| NUEVE TIENE HUEVOS!!! |
So we had made the playoffs, but we still had one more game to play against the same team on Sunday.
From this point on I'll call this entry: You Can't Make This Stuff Up Part 2
We left at 2 o'clock on Saturday for our 7 hour drive to where we were to play our last game. The plan was to get there, practice for a little, and get ready for Sunday. I had a bad feeling a soon as I walked on the bus and saw how filthy it was. You could literally smell the dirt in the air. The seats could not even hold my body weight; I leaned back and the chair leaned back without me pushing the button. But, we made the playoffs!
About 4 hours into the drive the bus cut off: in the middle of nowhere of course. Apparently something was wrong with the belt or something. We did not call a mechanic, but after an hour by the ingenuity of some of the bus drivers and the coaches we were able to get the bus running and make it to a car shop.
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| Just enjoying the scenery. Used to this by now. |
After about an hour the bus was fixed and we were on the road again. After exactly 50 minutes, the bus broke down again. Seriously. But, we made the playoffs!
Another hour passed, and they were able to get the bus fixed again. At this point was 10 o'clock and we still have another three hours ahead of us. Guess we were not practicing. We reached the city at about 1 am and then we had dinner. (Actually not that unusual.) Afterwards, my teammate and I decided to walk around the city for a little. (Not unusual either, there were a lot of people out and about.) It was during our little adventure when I heard the two most random English phrases ever spoken to me. We walked by two guys who were sitting on a bench when one shouted, "Double Dribbley", and the other jumped up, made a smoking gesture with his hand, and shouted, "Smoking grass poo". We decided that it was indeed time to return to the hotel.
The next day we ended up losing the game. We did not put our best foot forward because we wanted to rest people. But, we made the playoffs! After eating and learning which team we were going to play in the playoffs, we set off for our home at about 2 am...with the same bus...
At about 5 am we all felt that familiar feeling, the bus shut off. It was 5 am on a Sunday, so I did not know how we were going to find a mechanic. However, they were again able to start the bus back up in a record ten minutes. My teammate then jokingly said, "Watch the bus cut off again in 30 seconds." Of course he was wrong, it only took 20 seconds.
After another 20 minutes we were told that there was another bus behind us that was full of people and we were going to join them so we needed to grab our stuff. Seriously? But, we made the playoffs.
We joined them and we set off again at about 6 am. I even took a picture next to my seat buddy...
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| We were both kinda groggy |
A couple hours later we made it to the bus station, changed into a bus of our own, and then drove another two hours home. So now we are resting for the day, and leaving again tonight at 11 for another 8 hour trip to play our first game on Wednesday. That will make two straight nights on the bus and three bus trips in four days. But, we made the playoffs!
