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 News from Around Banderas Bay | May 2007 
Sidral Aga 14th International Sports Classic Basketball Recap
 Bob Cohen - PVNN
| After the basketball finals, all award winners were presented with trophies in a party-like atmosphere.
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The 14th Annual Sidral Aga International Sports Classic came to an end late Sunday, with the finals of the Open division basketball played in front of a full house at the Municipal Gym.
| | Howard Kelsey, co-chair of the Sports Classic and captain of the Sidra Aga team is awarded the trophy for the Open Division on behalf of his surrounding team. | 
| | Just the day before, the Vancouver Shadows Masters team won the championship game and Kelsey holds the trophy for his winning team. (photos by Bob Cohen - PVNN) |
The Sidral Aga team, captained by Howard Kelsey, was once again in the finals, and included a list of players that have played on a professional or Olympic level during their careers.
The last two years, the team suffered their first two losses in event history, facing the Mexican National team for the first time in 2005 and again in 2006. The Sidral Aga team is made up of players who have retired from competitive basketball, and most fall into the over 45 bracket. Playing the younger and stronger Mexican squad was a difficult task and the "older" guys couldn't take the trophy in the finals in the 100+ degree heat inside the gym.
This year, the format changed, as a Masters division was formed and many from the Sidral Aga team played in the over 45 event. The Mexican Masters team was permitted to have any players that were over 40 years of age. The game was played at 6 pm on Saturday.
Playing as the "Vancouver Shadows," the old guys filled the basket quickly and often against their Mexican opponent, the "Euro Oficinas," and led 36-20 after the first quarter. The lead opened to 60-35 at the half and Captain Howard Kelsey led the way, scoring 18 points by halftime.
The Mexican team was out manned and had only two players on the bench, but did have a strong, big man inside, and a good long range shooter that launched some "threes" from beyond 25 feet.
Bob Hieltjes and Jeff Moore from the Vancouver squad helped Kelsey, who finished with a game-high 26 points, by adding 16 each. The bench finished out the final quarter as the good-natured Masters final was won by Vancouver 91-69.
The Open Division final was played Sunday afternoon at 2 pm, and many of the same cast was looking for a second trophy. Added to the Sidral Aga team was the best point guard from Mexico, Enrique Zuniga, who was permitted to play as the National Team was not involved this year. Add Barry Randall and Jeff Moore to the backcourt, and Bob Hieltjes and Lars Hansen to the frontcourt, and there was quite a team on the floor. Ron Putzi was the first man in from the bench to replace any player.
Their opponents were named "Selecion Vallarta," and was made up of the best players from the Puerto Vallarta area. The team lacked a bit in size and did not offer the challenge that the powerful National Team did over the last two years, but they were tough, aggressive and quite familiar with the gym and the warm conditions, which had always hurt the team from the north.
Sidral Aga opened up a 25-17 lead almost completely on the shoulders of Barry Randle, who filled the basket with four "three pointers" in the opening quarter. Zuniga handled the ball throughout the first half with assists to all his supporting cast, especially Randle. The lead at halftime was 42-31 as Vallarta was staying close enough to take advantage of any lapses by the older, more experienced team.
No lapses or collapses occurred as Sidral Aga won by a final of 71-57, with Randle leading all scorers with 32 points and Zuniga scoring 16, mostly in the second half. The game might be the end of the long reign of the Sidral Aga team in open competition. The youngest player is 43 and there are a few that are over 50, and Kelsey might opt to play in the Masters in future years.
All in all, it was another good year of competition and fun at the Municipal Gym. After the final, each of the winning and finalist teams, including a girl's team that played for the first time this year, were called out and presented with trophies. |
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