September Basketball Camp

Fun, fun, fun!!

That sums up our basketball camp.  The kids had so much fun, more than half didn't want to leave.  We pride our camps on small coach to player ratios and with this camp, we lived up to it.  We had a hard cap of 40 attendees to keep the groups small.  Even with last minute (and welcomed) add on's we were able to maintain a proper ratio.  In this camp, UH made above expected money.  The money earned in our camps help scholarship players as well as keep the operating costs down.  This helps us bring basketball to many families without them feeling the crunch.  This is one reason our camps are important.  With money aside, we love running our camps.  All the volunteers are excited and enthusiastic.

Coach Fitz working with the older kids

It was a cool and cloudy morning at staff members arrived and set up outside.  Players started lining up early to get their new gold UH camp shirts and names put on their backs.  Excited faces and bright eyes entered the gym with balls and water bottles in hand.  Most didn't hesitate to use the few minutes before camp to shoot around and socialize.  While players got situated, Coach Greg used the opportunity to brief the coaching staff.  Camp was underway with the coaches addressing all the young players who sat in quiet anticipation.

Our younger players waiting for a pass

The camp ran smooth.  There were a series of group activities, both as one large group and smaller groups with rotations.  The coaches opened up camp with the normal drills going from one end of the court to the other.  They covered all the basics including passing, dribbling and rebounding exercises.  There was even conditioning including sit ups and push ups and running.  The camp had 2 games where 2 players won Jamba Juice gift cards and Uptempo Hoops car decals.  All this was before lunchtime.  With parents watching, I'm sure they were impressed with how much was covered in a short amount of time.  Many of the coaches helping out players one on one during all the activities. 

Lunch was held outside the gym in the food area of Conley Caraballo.  It is an enclosed area offering the freshness of the outdoors in a safe environment.  It was a beautiful day.  Kids ate in groups at the blue picnic tables.  You can hear laughter and discussions ranging from today's activities to the latest on Minecraft.  Parents are always welcome to stay the whole camp or just for lunch.  This time, there were a few parents out there having lunch with their child and friends.  Once lunch was done, it was popsicle time.  Yummy cold popsicles were passed out to all the children at the camp including the young siblings, who are too young for our camp.  Yes, parents were welcome to popsicles too.  Next, picture time!  By lunch time, some campers and volunteers left for other Saturday activities.  We try to grab them for picture time around the lunch hour.  Luckily most stayed and were able to be in the group picture.  Our pictures always end with a "show us your funny face" picture where the kids' personalities come out.

Female athletes recharging

It's popsicle time!

Onto the second half of camp.  For most kids, this is the best part of camp.  Here, more elevated skills are introduced.  These skills include more problem solving and team dynamics.  They are taught to work together because afterall, basketball is a team sport.  The coaches promote the "team" mentality and work on defense.  It's very good lessons for young kids, which will carry them through life whichever sport they choose.  The camp ends with forming small teams for 3 on 3 competition.  In these scrimmages, all they learned in today's camp is tested.  All the players passed the test.  They applied everything they learned in this short amount of time.  The scrimmages are challenging, but fun.  Many players are laughing and cheering as the coaches make competition fun. 

Some of our own UH players coming in for more training.  This is the love of the game. 

The day ends with more games for the players.  More prizes are handed out.  At the beginning of the camp players are encouraged to meet new kids.  At the end of camp, they are asked who new did they meet and what is their name.  Each player asked was able to name 5 new names.  That was wonderful.  Two prizes handed out are for the players (one girl and one boy) who showed enthusiasm during the camp and team play, some one who really represented the spirit of the Uptempo Hoops camp.  This is always a hard one because there are so many to choose from.  We would love to give a GC to each camper.  They all deserve the recognition.  Returning players the best reward for us.  The coaches' last words of encouragement include thanking the families and telling the children to continue what they've learned today.  One coach even mentioned "when you see each other, say hi".  We wrap up with one last picture moment of coaches and players. 

A happy group of coaches and athletes!

A special thanks to Muriel Irwin and Kat Otico for their help with the registration table.  They kept everyone moving along and helped get camp started on time.  Also, they helped with providing some supplies.  Thank you to Cecille Santos for helping with the lunch run for our volunteers.  More thanks goes to the UH players and teens who volunteered their Saturday to help out.  Also, the coaches, who always do a great job making this a positive experience for the young kids.  It's because of our volunteers we are able to make this happen and have return players.  UH does a great job of having enough people work our camps.  Lastly, thanks to the families and players.  Their support help make this possible and fun.  As I mentioned, we love running our camps.  We are already looking forward to the next one. 

In one email sent to me a parent stated:  "...really enjoyed the camp last Saturday. He didn't want to leave because he had fun learning and making new friends. I really liked how your coaches preach defense. "  ~~ W. Bembo.  This sums up the spirit of Uptempo Hoops and why we love running our camps. 

End of Season Picnic

End Of Season, But Definitely Not Over

The first to grab grub and chow down

What a beautiful day for a picnic in the park.  September was the perfect time to celebrate the end of an AAU season.  The morning was brisk, but opened up to a much more warmer afternoon.  Board members showed up around 11:00 am to set up and arrange the tables.  It was a cool morning, you can definitely feel that fall is here.  But this cooler than expected morning weather wasn't about to disrupt our picnic.  We were expecting a wonderful turnout and very excited.  The first to arrive was the Singh family, ready with warm KFC waiting to be eaten.  Soon after families started arriving, with food in hand and smiles on their faces.  Kids headed straight for the Spiderman basketball/slide combo jumper.  Parents greeted eachother and enjoyed the company.  The Yabut family fired up the BBQ and grilled delicious chicken wings.  There was so much food and too many to describe, but there was good variety. 

Football with the 7th grade and 4th grade teams

The park has a very large open grass area next to the two sectioned picnic area.  It's ideal for jumpers and outdoor sporting activities.  The open area allowed a cool breeze to blow through the party.  As the cool air drifted over the food table, it brought with it the smell of fresh tantilizing aromas.  There were enough pop up tents shading several white table cloth covered picnic tables.  Modern lively music played from an iPod and there were coolers of drinks surrounding the food table. 

Everyone enjoyed an array of games.  The jumper was never without kids jumping and sliding.  There was an exciting football game going on next to a fast paced volley ball game.  Boys engaged in a water fight with water guns.  Younger kids enjoyed the short walk to the playground and warm sand.  Many kids stopped long enough to grab a quick bite to eat or drink, but went right back to playing.  All ages, mixed together played and socialized.  It was as if the basketball season was still on and we were waiting for a tournament game; just killing time.  Many haven't seen each other in weeks.  Most have started basketball in other leagues or CYO.  However, coming together once again, it was as if no time has passed. 

They were all friends again.

Thank you Dr. Salins for all your support

Time flew today.  We presented our Gold Sponors with plaques:  Dr. Salins, Balentine Dental and RT Western.  Dr. Salins was present today to receive his plaque and provide Uptempo Hoops with a ice cream.  Kids cannot get enough ice cream as they all dove in digging through the ice to find their favorite flavor.  One of our Silver Sponsory, Maryann Rensch of Bianca's Boutique attended bringing chocolate chip cookies and a face painter. Children lined up to get tatoos on their limbs or masks on their faces. Our sponsors were very much welcome and appreciated.  They enjoyed the atmosphere and good food.  We are very fortunate to have the sponsors we have and look forward to long term relationships.  Thank you to Yvette Cruz and Alpine Awards for the beautiful sponsor plaques.

Board members were thanked with a gracious speech by our President, Rene Noriega.  I thanked the hard working coaches, the backbone of our organization.  They are the reason we've grown to be the success we are.  Muriel Irwin dedicated her time to find the right coach's gift.  She purchased personalized game boards where they can write up their plays during AAU games in UH style.  They glistened with the coach's name and "Uptempo Hoops" shining brightly.  It was the perfect gift.  Mrs. Irwin wasn't done.  She even spent time to make the players' certificates.  They also came out perfect in our team colors of blue and gold.  Players' names were written in black caligraphy and they looked very professional and sharp.  The teams broke up into their 4 groups and the coaches presented the players with their certificates.  Every speech more enduring than the previous.  Players gleemed with smiles as teammates clapped and cheered.  Families watched with love and pride as they see the success of their player. 

Mrs. Irwin's hard work.  Great Coach's gift. 

After the speeches were done, it was back to playing and clean up time.  Food was divided among families.  Most didn't wait til home, we just kept eating while we were there.  Everyone pitched in to clean up the picnic area.  Once the jumper was ready and deflated, the kids found other things to do.  The boys split up and played either basketball or baseball.   The girls found the sidewalk chalk and added their own inspiration to the pavement. 

Sidewalk art by siblings of the 4th grade, 5th grade and 6th grade teams.

This picnic was a time to show appreciation.  It was a time to reminice over the season.  Moreover, it was a time to strengthen the bonds of our families.  We could picnic anytime.  However, to have a picnic with this much emotion means so much more.  The families remember why they are part of Uptempo Hoops and the coaches are reminded why they coach these wonderful kids.  As stated earlier in the day, UH is expected to grow and we look forward to the talent which awaits UH. 

What's Next for Uptempo Hoops?

The 2012 season comes to a close

UH Family in Reno coming together

What is next for the Uptempo Hoops Family?  The players split up in different directions.  Some focus on CYO while others continue AAU with a different organization until next February.  Still others will play for their schools and some players will continue to train on their own.  Whatever they decide to do, they know that off season can be just as fun.  They will continue to grow together. 

The season flew by.  Maybe because we doubled in size and entered more tournaments.  Maybe because our focus was on Reno and we spent our time prepping for that event.  Maybe...we just didn't want it to end.  I remember information night and meeting new families.  With no time to waste, we launched into UH exclusive conditioning training.  Before we knew it, Reno was upon us and then Rocklin...and then August. 

Just a few of our family members

Just as fast as the season went, the off season will go even faster.  We will have our annual picnic on September 8.  This event is sure to be fun full of eating, playing and socializing.  September 15 we will have another basketball camp where many of our younger players attend while the older players volunteer their time coaching.  We will have Uptempo Nights at college basketball games.  One will be at San Jose State University supporting one of our family members, who will play for Sacramento State, Mikhael McKinney.  More Uptempo Nights are planned to support our Coach JP Peterson, head coach for Ohlone College, Fremont.  There are many more activities planned for the Uptempo Hoops Family.  The UH Board will continue to meet and plan off season activities, as well as activities already in work for 2013.  We are excited.  The next few months hold so much for UH.  The next year, even more events are planned for the UH Family.

Hardwood Palace Organization Tournament

Uptempo Hoops hits the road

"The Hardwood Palace - where families & friends cheer on dedicated young men who represent the wisdom and teachings of their coaches. On this hard wood battlefield, every young man wears their team colors. We wear Blue & Gold. WE ARE Uptempo."  ~~ A. Gloria (father of N. Gloria, grade 5).

Noriega's no look pass to Inciong

The whole organization travels to Rocklin, CA for another organization tournament.  From Union City, the location is about 2.5 hours drive northeast.  Many of the families hit the road early, some even spending Friday night in the Sacramento area. Those who left the Bay early, head out in the early morning Saturday chill.  The 7th and 5th grade teams start off the event.  Their first games begin about ~10:00 am in the morning.  It was a great start to the day and for those of us who arrived early, it was fun to cheer them on.  Both teams won their first games. 

The Hardwood Palace, for those of us who have never been there, is an impressive place.  It's not as big as Reno.  It's what you can call "just big enough".  The place is spacious and opens up to a complete snack bar offering smoothies, pizza, hot dogs, nachos...all the good sports food.  The first floor is filled with side by side courts.  Imagine a donut configuration with the snack bar and stairs in the middle.  Oh yes, there is a second floor.  The second floor is a huge balcony area in which spectators can watch the games below.  It was a perfect place to hang out or let the younger UH members run and play in safety. 

Coach Otico shouts out instructions

Upon arriving, we grabbed some stools and watched the 5th grade play to the left of us and the 7th grade to the right of us.  The 4th grade moms were in regular form and screaming for Uptempo.  We are not afraid to call the ref's on what we think are bad calls.  After the 5th and 7th grades won their first games, it was time for the 4th grade to face their first opponents at 11am.  They were a bit nervous and tired, but ready.  The 9 players took the court and didn't look back as they won their first game.   

5th grade knows how to kill time between games

The day was filled with 3 games per grade level.  The 4th grade and 6th grade were able to stay at Hardwood Palace for all three games.  The 5th grade and 7th grade had to play at least one game at another location, Roseville.  There was some time to kill for all grades between games.  The kids know how to have fun.  The 6th grade faced their first opponents at 2pm.  This was unfortunately late because the other three grades had already played about 2 games each by then. 

6th grade enjoying snack time in the balcony

Maybe if the first game was earlier, and the boys didn't have to wait so long, the turn out of the first game may have been a victory.  Unfortunately, the 6th grade did not win their first game against a D1 team.  They fought hard and did their best and the loss did not sway their positive attitude.  They had a great time hanging out with friends drinking Icee's and hanging out on the balcony. 

UH comes to watch and cheer on 4th grade in game 3

The weather in Rocklin was well over 100 degrees.  Some families chose not to leave the facility at all because of the heat.  Some families enjoyed the closeness of Thunder Valley Casino and still some other families enjoyed the nearby eateries.  Hardwood Palace seems like it's in the middle of nowhere, but there are actually places nearby...just be sure you have a GPS. 

When you are hanging out with the families and friends of Uptempo, you don't mind hanging out the whole day.  The snack bar food was good, the company even better and we had a few victories under our belt.  Groups of UH members walked over from one court to the other supporting each other.  The only team to win the championship and receive much deserved medals was the 7th grade team.  They finished the day undefeated.  Watching them was so exciting.  They are such a smart group of boys who know how to play basketball.  They return to the fundamentals, they listen to their coach and they respect each other.   After winning their medals, they went to watch and cheer on the 4th grade team in game 3.  At one point, I saw my son turn his head in their direction and nod.  Later, I asked him what did they say, what was the advice?  His answer...back to basics...they said "next time aim".  There can't be any better advice than that. 

Tournament champs.  7th grade wins 3-0!!

As one parent so eloquently put it:  "what a great example of what "the pyramid of success" teaches. it's not just an ideal or concept. Uptempo team/family practices this on and off the court. confidence, self-control, friendship, and a real love of a hard battle ... to name just a few... we do our best to become the best that we are capable of becoming. we hear the acknowledgment and say "thank you." :)"  ~~ L. Mercado (mother of M. Mckinney, grade 7).  She made this statement the day after Rocklin and after a successful organization tournament. 

Uptempo Hoops is very proud of all the players.  They work hard on the court, during games and at practices.  As young men, they are great examples of stellar athletes in action and in attitude.  With a roster of over 50 players, there isn't one bad thing I can say about any one of our players.  Each member is an asset to their team.  The championship of one team is the championship of the whole organization.

Today We Lay To Rest One Of Our Daughters

Ode to Zoe Inciong, an Inspirational Young Lady

Start of Sophomore year

Today, hundreds of family and friends laid to rest a beautiful young lady who passed away too early.  She was a daughter of the Uptempo Hoops family; from the onset of the organization.  She was more of an inspiration than any world leader, inventor or historical figure.  She loved sports:  water polo and basketball.  She loved her share of junk food and chocolate...like those fried chocolate cookie things you talked me into eating in Santa Cruz and I said "gross". She was a straight A student with scholarly potential who wished to attend Columbia University.  She was your typical teenager learning to drive with her father, Coach Randy Inciong, as he held his breath with every acceleration.  From the passenger seat, he watched admiringly at his growing daughter. 

She loved New York!!

When I met Zoe, I thought she was stunning.  She had a bright smile, athletic build and was tall.  She was always polite and funny.  She was the older sister to the first Uptempo Hoops players and their siblings.  At tournaments, she often stepped up and took care of my young girls.  She would play with them, make sure they stayed out of harm's way and even fed them.  She was a natural with younger children.  At the first fundamentals camp, right before UH was created, she assisted in coaching.  She encouraged the players.  Her magnetic personality could only be matched by her zest for life.  As everyone who was close to her, the news of her diagnosis was devastating and unbelievable.  This amazing young woman stood strong and fought the battle head on.  She never stopped to feel sorry for herself or give in. 

Coach and Zoe acting silly

It's been a tough year of emotional up's and down's.  Her parents were pillars of strength who were surrounded by one of the strongest support groups that I've ever seen.  People pulled together to make sure Zoe's brother Teo was taken cared of and continued his extracurricular activities.  The Inciong family often had food delivered to them hot and ready to go by willingly helpful families. When it was my turn, mother, Ria said "just KFC"...I started believing "wow this family loves their KFC"...but she just didn't want to be a burden.  It was never a burden to be part of this support group, it was an honor and a privilege. UH members attended Zumba, blood drives and other events so that life would not suck for Zoe.  It was such an emotional ride for this large group. 

The Inciong family helped start UH, when it was just an idea.  We all looked forward to seeing Zoe play in a UH uniform on our first female team.  This is my ode to Zoe...and her family.  From day one, when my son walked onto the black top court during a UH practice, nail biting and nervous, they made us family.  Zoe became Ate (Filipino for older sister/cousin).  She embraced us, as she learned this from her parents who raised her well.  We laid her down today for eternal rest, but she will never be forgotten.  One day spent with her, you are effected for life.  Thank you Zoe.  Thank you for letting me be part of your life.  Thank you for teaching me what is valuable.  Thank you for how you effected Tia, to the point she still cries for you everyday and you've inspired her to write. Thank you for so much more than I can write about in this blog.  Rest in paradise, until we meet again. 

Zoe's UH Team Bag

In Between Games

All hands on deck...or in our case...on court!



6th grade potluck

This past weekend, 6/30, all teams played in tournaments.  Of course, the locations varied, but the UH spirit was shared.  The 4th grade played hard and lost first place by only 2 points, ending their tournament with a 2-1 record.  The 5th grade entered a D1 tournament which included travelling teams from Southern California.  The 6th grade had a slow start in their tournament, same location as the 4th grade, but ended strong with a 2-1 record.  The 7th grade, as usual, with courage in tow, faced the challenges of one of the better tournaments.  Every UH player stepped up and played hard, even when the energy seemed to run out or there was the inevitable loss in the last 2 minutes.  They play hard.  What do they do better than play basketball hard?  They just play.  They have fun.  These kids and the families know how to kill time between games.  In AAU, there is a lot of down time between games.  A tournament can have 3 games in one day or 4 games over 2 days.  It can involve travelling to places we have never been.  What do we do?  We organize!!

Words of inspiration to the 5th grade

In the past, the 4th grade has made spontaneous trips to our favorite food of choice...ice cream!!  We seem to always suggest places that have good ice cream.  We have a philosophy in our basketball world...ice cream solves everything.  The 5th grade has taken breaks and shared laughs and snacks.  They are composed of some returning players from last season, who know how to kill time and some newbies who just love hanging out.  The 6th grade is probably our best example of how to set up a successful potluck.  They come with coolers, food and furniture in tow appearing like a school cafeteria.  Just as the 6th knows their potluck etiquette, the 7th grade knows how to fill a restaurant or chill at a beach.  It seems there is never enough food to fill a 7th grade basketball playing boy.



7th grade taking over Stacks in UH style

Yes, these people know how to socialize and eat...and eat...and eat.  What else do they do in between games?  The coaches pump up their players.  They know all the right things to say to turn frowns upside down.  In between games, I witnessed the different coaching styles, but all end up with encouraging words.  They remind the kids that as long as you play hard and execute correctly, win or lose, you are already a winner.  As parents, we get very very competitive and sometimes forget the spirit of the game is to have our young ones learn basketball and many of life's lessons.  These coaches not only encourage our kids, they themselves can be overgrown boys.  They are young at heart.  They all have great sense of humors and I've seen them play on court against the smallest players, just having fun.  After a day of losses, these boys are reminded, once again what it's like to just be a boy.  I owe that in part to the coaches.  They never let even one player leave feeling sorry for them self.



Just another 4th grade pile up

The best way to use up time is just to be around family.  The UH Family is made up of a great group of families who support each other.  During the off season, most players play in the CYO league.  Families went from one CYO game to the other to watch and support UH players.  This upcoming season will be no different.  It's the way we are, what we believe in and what we want our kids to believe.  We support each other.  In between games, the families tell stories and create stronger bonds.  I remember at the beginning of the season telling some parents that these kids will get very close this summer and create life long friends.  What I failed to mention was the friendships which will last a lifetime between the families.  When we are killing time between games, it's not just to kill time, it's to re-enforce "family".  This includes all the families of UH, the extended families who travel to cheer us on and the fans who attend our fundraisers and follow our social media.  This IS family. 




The best way to kill time between games

In between games is one of the best times we have at UH.  It's a time to socialize and get to know each other.  It's down time and a time to eat.  For me, it's the time we create memories.  As a team, we complain about the previous game's officiating and talk about future plans to Vegas.  We cry together, we hug, we cheer and we laugh.  We even lose weight and get healthy together.  As a family, our number one priority is to protect our children, all our children.  And as a family, that's what we do now and in the future.  UH will only get bigger and better.  Every family member is a crucial part of this organization's success. It's nice to see it develop. 

I write this with a young beautiful lady in mind:  Zoe Inciong.  "Family" has taken on a much larger meaning as we've pulled together and travelled down a rough road with the Inciong family.  Zoe is battling cancer, but she doesn't fight alone.  This past weekend was full of tournaments, but the best downtime was seeing UH members pull together and celebrate her sweet 16.  We even participated in a flash mob and just to see her smile and laugh during the dance was priceless.   

Older UH players spinning the younger ones at Zoe's sweet 16.  Muscle power!!



Father's Day Tournaments

The 6th and 5th Grades Play Father's Day Weekend

The setting for both the 6th and 5th grade was the Burlingame Sports Center.  This is a wonderful sports center with 3 basketball courts.  The BullDawgs run their tournaments here.  The parking is very tight, but not impossible.  The morning was already warming up and so was the action inside the center. 

The 6th grade had an early morning game, 8:30 am on June 16.  They were ready to go against the San Jose Falcons.  It was an exciting and close game as the boys rushed up and down the court in familiar UH fashion.  The ball travelled like a yo-yo on a string attached to the players' hands.  There were several lead changes and the defense was tough.  The UH boys played hard.  As the game stayed close most of the time, in the end the UH team prevailed.  The final score was 46-41 with a UH win.  They now had to wait until 2:00pm for their second game.  The heat outside was escalating quickly, but the action in the gym was even hotter.

The 5th grade team was a slim 8 man roster which included the talented UH 5th grade players and one 3rd grader from the 4th grade team, all lead by head coach R. Narciso.  The first game was at 9:40 am against the Belmont Falcons.  Game 1 was full of action.  The Falcons put up a good fight, working for every shot.  However, players such as J. Radich with his 3 point shots and C. Haastrup and J. Ortiz with their awesome rebounding was just too much for the Falcons.  After the amazing drives and layups by S. Fitchie and C. Carlton to add to the lead, the UH team won 32-22.  Now the 5th grade waits for game 2 of the same day.

Game 2 for the 5th grade was against EB Unite, a local East Bay team.  Some players from our side knew some players from the EB Unite team.  This was a close game with EB Unite leading the whole first half.  It looked dismal and possibly, the UH team was to suffer a loss.  However, after a pep talk at the half by Coach Narciso and his assistant, the boys came out on fire.  N. Gloria drove hard to the basket with determination putting up a beautiful layup.  A. Tohouri putting up a floater as it glided into the net.  N. Austria was aggressive under the basket, several times getting the rebound and putting points on the board.  The whole 5th grade team came back from the half with a passion.  The game remained close until the fourth quarter.  The UH team began to pull away in the final minutes winning game 2 43-37.  The 5th grade team ends the day with a 2-0 record.


Unfortunately for the 6th grade team, they played a hard second game.  The 6th grade team entered the D1 division and were tough enough to play an elite team.  They played hard and with lots of energy.  However, they would lose.  They would end their Saturday with a 1-1 record.  Maybe it was the long wait between the two games.  They had to wait from 9:30 to a little after 2:00 pm just waiting.  Burlingame is on the other side of the bay for us and a long wait between games can be very inconvenient icing our hot players.  I think they had a better chance if the games were closer together.  Onto game 3 for Sunday against Bay City for 3rd place.

Sunday was full of game 3's for this tournament.  The 5th grade played in the championship for their bracket as the 6th grade played for 3rd place.  There was the usual fantastic ball handling and amazing shots.  The regular outside shots made their 3 pointers and the bigs did their job rebounding and protecting the ball.  The players screened appropriately allowing guards to drive or dish out.  However, the 6th grade had a slow start to the game and their bodies took time to wake up.  These young boys had a tough game, again their first D1 tournament and ended up falling to Bay City, 36-44.  The 5th grade team played Team Esface out of East Palo Alto and with a 22-5 UH lead at the half, the UH team finished the tournament in first place.  The final score was 42-15 with an Uptempo Hoops championship victory.  Fortunate for the 5th grade team, they had the addition of J. Razal #23 to the roster who can play a strong forward.  Coach Narciso received the trophy and the boys were dawned with medals for their efforts. 

It was a busy weekend with an exciting tournament.  Both the 6th grade and 5th grade played hard.  Good job to the coaches and to the players.  The 6th grade won their first D1 game and that's an amazing feat in itself.  The 5th grade walked away with a tournament win.  Congratulations to both teams!

June 13 Dine Out Fundraiser

Last Day of School Fundraiser at Straw Hat Pizza

Our third dine out fundraiser for Uptempo Hoops was held at Straw Hat Pizza in Hayward on Industrial Blvd.  This Straw Hat is one of our sponsors giving money to UH helping purchase team bags and for assistance for scholarship players.  The fundraiser was all day.  It was the last day for New Haven School District and Fremont Unified School District.  It was the perfect day to celebrate the last day of school.  Warm, ready to eat food like pizza was the perfect eats. 

The restaurant can be found in a strip mall on Industrial Blvd.   There is ample parking and the service is wonderful.  The salad bar is clean and offers a variety of options.  There are two dining rooms, one of which can be reserved for private parties.  There is also an arcade which offers a variety of fun games for all ages.  For the grown ups, there are at least 3 tv's showing current sporting events.  The environment is open and welcoming right from entering the double glass doors. 

Ayson family enjoying family dinner

Uptempo Hoops families came in waves enjoying the fresh hot food.  Straw Hat Pizza offers a variety of the usual suspects:  pizza, salad, drinks.  Other items which are popular are their baked sandwiches, sub sandwiches and appetizers such as cheese sticks and bacon garlic bread sticks.  The famished families ordered a variety of foods while kids enjoyed playing in the open arcade and trading in tickets for prizes.  There was socializing, eating and good times.  As families stayed and enjoyed the atmosphere, the phone was on a constant ring for take out orders.  The Manager informed me the calls were from Uptempo families. 

Haynes family waiting for a delicious pizza

With the assistance of M. Irwin, this third UH dine out fundraiser was a success.  These are more than fundraisers to bring money into the organization, which is much needed and important.  These events are a time for the members to socialize and get to know each other outside of a basketball atmosphere.  The summer, full of tournaments comes and goes quickly.  It's nice to make the time to attend these events. 




UH fills up the Straw Hat dining room

Everyone is already looking forward to next month's dine out fundraiser.  The Board is already swarming with ideas for the warm month of July.  We look forward to every one's support and as always invite all UH members, our families, friends and fans.  Go Uptempo...and have some dine out fun!!

No Mercy Tournament - 7th Grade

2012 10th Annual Summer Classic-No Mercy North Peninsula Force Tournament in Pacifica

Submitted by L. Gisler (7th grade TM):

Oh they so silly!

First game was on Saturday, 1:15 against the Benecia Black.   The game started off with B.Gisler forgetting his shoes so L. Murphy lent him his lime green pair to wear.  A little tight, but workable!  All the boys seem to be wearing such a wide array of shoe colors these days!  First quarter showed some nice passing by E.Cha, and good defense by N.Conner & K.Ayson which allowed us to lead 11 - 5.  Second quarter there was a great deny by D.Lee, a couple of clean passes from B.Gisler to T.Ambulkar which lead to scores, super assists by R.Parilla , and an awesome steal by J.Ignacio, which kept the score about even at half time. 

7th grade chowing down on some beach BBQ

Second half brought an in-the-air steal by M.McKinney, a flying deny by B.Gisler, and some solid scoring by E.Haynes.  But unfortunately, The Benecia Black was a tough team which didn't let up, and their defense was quick to shut down our offense, so the game was lost 40 to 46 at the end.  I think the boys feel that if they get a chance to play The Benecia Black again, the outcome would be very different if Uptempo just played the game they know how to play.

With 3 hours to spare til the afternoon game many of the players headed to the beach to enjoy a beautiful day.  But around 5pm it was announced there wouldn't be a second game due to a forfeit, so the boys were disappointed they wouldn't play again that day, but it allowed them to eat a second helping of delicious BBQ lunch!

Sunday was a 9:40am game and the opponent was Payes Jr. team.  The boys dominated the scoreboard right from the get-go.  The highlight of the game was that Coach Rene promised that he would do 100 push-ups if L.Murphy scored a 3-pointer. So, L.Murphy came through and swanked one a second before the first half ended! which put the team into a happy frenzy.  Coach Rene conceded that he'll honor his bet, hopefully at a practice that all the boys attend to witness first hand! (footnote:  Coach did his push ups). 

Final score was 66 to 19.

Roadtrip to Sacramento

4th Grade Plays Sac Area Sports

For our 4th grade, to get a good game within the same age group, we take to the road and head East to Sacramento.  We end up at San Juan High School in Citrus Heights.  We get pretty good competition in the Bay Area, but from experience, we can get some good tournaments against non Bay teams as well.  We found it.  The 4th grade showed up with a strong 9 player roster.   The starters were ready to go and we had a deep bench.  What is even more exciting for the players (and parents and fans), we were able to get J. Ortiz, a 5th grader who is 10u eligible.  Thank you for having a late birthday.  He's been with UH since the inception of the organization.  He's a strong center with fantastic post up skills.  He can rebound and knows how to protect the ball.  Ortiz possesses a high basketball IQ as he plays his position very well.  For this Sac Area Sports tournament, it was obvious our 4th grade brought all the lessons learned from Reno with them.  They were very ready to hit the court running.

Otico keeping it on the low low

First, it's warm up time on the blacktop. San Juan High School is beautiful.  The blacktop courts are right outside of two gyms, one small and one large.  It was mild, but quite windy that day.  The boys were wrapped up until they started warming up.  They shot around and ran the familiar drills.  Will this weather ever warm up?  Maybe...but as these boys played...you will see.... if the weather wasn't hot...these boys WERE. 

Game 1 was against Team Esface of East Palo Alto.  This season we faced this team twice before this match up.  One of which was in Reno, where UH ended up the victor.  Could there be another Reno repeat or has Team Esface figured out UH?  Team Esface put up a great effort and has obviously improved since the Jam On It tournament.  In the end, UH prevailed winning game #1, 27-20.  At this point in the season, not only has the 4th grade team improved, they are more comfortable being on the court and playing with each other.  Only a month or two ago, this same winning team may have not been able to close out a game.  They learn fast. 

R. Noriega drilling a pass.  Will A. Brar catch it??

Boys invade little Del Taco

It's lunch time!!  There is about 2 and a half hours to kill until game 2.  The team drove from one eating joint to another until finally settling on a local hot spot....yup...Del Taco!!  OK, maybe not the most modern and exciting place to eat, but the kids loved it.  Del Taco, is a small fast food Mexican cuisine eatery.  The space is limited with tables seating 4 at the most.  As one can imagine...UH 4th grade took over the joint.  Kids were everywhere, playing games at the tables, eating up cheesy Mexican food and laughing.  The good thing about times like this is that the ball players can once again just be kids.  They tease each other, laugh together and share food.  They even share personal space as those tables meant for 4, these boys easily squeezed 6 of themselves shoulder to shoulder.  The parents also bond and laugh and forget about the diet. 

Onto game 2, UH vs. Team Trail promptly at 2pm.  The weather has now warmed up and so has our 4th grade players.  The wind is blowing hard and fast, and just like the wind, the 4th graders blew past the competition.  They played even better in game 2 with more conviction and determination.  There were amazing eye catching plays by our guards and the rebounding was excellent.  Our outside shooters were on point.  D. Ravara setting up on the weak side, swoosh, the ball floats into the net.  A. Brar planting both feet on the right side, a perfect arch into the hole.  Both sides were covered with both outside shots as well as rebounding.  The guards weaving in and out, in control.  Fast hands of M. Griffin and anticipation of J. Yabut causing turnovers in the UH flavor.  Final score:  28-32....even though the scorekeeper added 2 points to Team Trail and forgot to add one point, a free throw by C. Carlton, to UH.  The scorekeeper was more absorbed with talking on his cell phone rather than keeping an accurate score.  Fans told him.  Officials told him to correct the score.  But of course, if you don't record the score on paper, you have no point of reference.  This was an unfortunate use of authority.  Just because they are 10u, does not make their games any less important.  The officiating for both first games were performed very well.  UH has a 2-0 record.  So does the competition for the 3rd game, the NorCal Pharaohs.  Onto a championship game.

Boys showing some defense.  Look at the communication!

First, let me say, the NC Pharaohs are a wonderful ball club led by well experienced and respected coaches.  My dialogue with the head coach began in game 2 when he tried assisting us with rectifying the score, even though it wasn't his responsibility.  It was just the right thing to do and he did it, well tried, the scorekeeper still refusing to change the numbers.  The Pharaohs are fast and excellent ball handlers.  They entered the gym in unity and our boys stared in awe.  The game was on.  And what a game!!  The 2 teams were neck and neck til the very end.  Fans were off their seats and creeping onto the court.  R. Noriega - 3 pointer and 1.  Yes, a 4 point play!  Fans screamed.  C. Carlton, dribbling behind the back, ending in a reverse for 2 and 1, a 3 point play.  Fans jumped.   T. Inciong, unguarded under the rim, his sweet spot, easy 2 into the basket.  Fans in hysteria.  I. Otico running the open court, arm in the air, calling for the pass, 2 points.  Fans exclaimed.  The small gym was energized and filled with excitement.  The frenzy was intoxicating, both sides screaming in the spirit of exaltation for every basket and every play.  These boys, all of them on the court played their hearts out.  When they used up what was left in their hearts, they ran on pure adrenaline and energy.  When that ran out, their bodies devoured the remaining oxygen left in the gym. 

One comment I made about our boys was "they brought Reno back with them".  What I meant was two fold.  First, they brought the excitement.  Second, they brought back what they learned and they learned a lot.  It was a great game to watch.  28-28 and 2 seconds left.  The longest 2 seconds I've ever had to wait.  UH lost to a buzzer beater.  UH players' hearts sank.  Usually my heart would sink with them, as I get very emotional at games.  Tears flowed over their elongated cheeks.  This time, however, I scraped up the remaining energy the players solemnly left on the court.  After the coach's encouraging words, I addressed the miniature band of brothers, who walked away war torn.  "Don't you dare cry.  Don't you dare feel ashamed of yourselves.  Hold your heads high and proud.  Your parents are so proud of you, be proud of yourself.  You played awesome.  Walk over there and congratulate the Pharaohs for a great win and you be proud of how good you played today".  They played better than I've ever seen this team play.  It was important to me they knew that.  I know those teammates who could not make it, would have made this even more exciting and maybe, tip the seesaw of victory in our favor.  The communication on the court was right on.  The passes with direction and meaning.  There were impressive drives to the basket.  Loose balls fell onto the hardwood, and so did bodies.  Both sides fighting hard, fighting strong.  UH has nothing to be ashamed of.  I'm so proud of my boys. 

Families enjoying dinner at Fenton's.  Ice cream solves everything.

Eyes dried and one more group picture then it's off to be boys again.  What solves everything, per Coach Otico?  "ice cream".  Off to Fenton's in the Nut Tree in Vacaville.  Ice Cream DOES solve everything.  The kids pigged out on good food, some on more ice cream, but all played in the coin operated rides.  The families relaxed together, enjoying the mild weather and laughing over the kids' antics, kids and kids at heart.  Only the kids pigged out?  No...a tough loss is also a great excuse for us parents to eat a little too much.  This was a good way to end the day, we wished all the team was there, we wished all the organization was there.  The big brothers, help the 4th grade forget their losses.  Congratulations to Coach Otico and Coach Inciong, you led these boys to a victory today.  Fentons is a great family restaurant and UH is a great family.

End of day picture.  Awesome group of players. 

The Road to Reno Chapter VII

Chapter VII:  Final Chapter:  Thoughts From The Families


This weekend was more than a tournament.  It was full of friendships created and nurtured.  There were memories made, which will last forever.  Yes, we came here wanting to win.  What we walked away with is so much more.  Uptempo Hoops builds an organization based on family values.  We are raising adults with conviction and integrity.  We want to be proud of these players both on and off the court.  We are proud.

Balentine Plaza Dental Care     Salins Orthodontics      RT Western Construction

We spent time getting to know each other, breaking bread at Bully's and chilling by the pool.  I wish we had more time there.  I wish we were able to have a parents night out.  Time just went so fast.  Walking away from this experience I'm richer.  I've made new friends and spent time with old ones.  I watched all three of my children build fond memories. 

The best memory is seeing the organization come together to support the other teams.  I loved the anarchy caused by the varied game schedule. UH members asking "which court now?" and moving together in animalistic herds from one court to the other, hungry for the next game.  I didn't see any other organization come together the way Uptempo Hoops did.  The feeling I had inside welled up with pride like a balloon, about to burst into emotional air, as I scanned the room.  Though my son plays on the 4th grade team, when the 7th grade lost, we were there, a group of us.  We shared tears and laughter and hugs.  We chanted and cheered.  This group of people will be lifelong friends...and family.  We will watch each other's kids, and like that night of the 7th grade loss, we will cry together and cheer together.  Reno meant this.  From different courts, there were proverbial hugs and high fives.  From different states, there were cyber tears (both of joy and hurt).  Reno meant we shared something more than basketball, we shared emotion, emotion which runs deeper than any buzzer beating shot.

Moms hanging out by the pool

Submitted by L. Gisler (7th Grade TM and new mom):

Well, if anyone thought that the snowy car ride over the pass to get to Reno was going to put a chill on the players, they thought wrong. The first two games on Saturday at the Reno Sparks Convention Center against the teams Bay City Basketball from SF, and the Blazin Heat from Chico, showed that the boys were hot, winning handily each time (53 – 34 & 43 – 35 respectively). Part of the enthusiasm came from the wonderful surprise that one of their team mates, Tanish, who had been saying all along that he couldn’t make it to the tournament, showed up right before game time. Way to go Tanish & Coach Rene on keeping that secret from all of us!

Sunday brought a late 8:00pm game time, so boys got to sleep in late, play video games, explore, hang out at the famed Circus Circus or Grand Sierra Resort, and enjoy a great dinner with the rest of the Uptempo families at Bully’s Sport Bar. Finally game time arrived, and the game against Top Flight Elite was intense, fast paced, rough, and of course sprinkled with questionable reff’g calls. At the end of regulation time the score was tied, which the rule calls for a 2 minute overtime play. The sidelines were packed with other Uptempo teammates and families, all bellowing their support. But it wasn’t enough to carry the boys over the hurdle, and with hearts broken they lost the game by 4 points, 38 - 42.

Dads chilling pool side

Monday was slated for a 5:30pm game, to play for third place. With such a long drive home, everyone was looking at arriving home well after midnight. But with some carpooling and rearranging, every single family was willing to sacrifice their sleep to finish the tournament out and see it to the end. But again, as we are discussing our plans, Coach Rene comes through and gets our 5:30 time changed to 9:30 am!

Monday we wake up to a beautiful day in Reno, and it carries over to the court and we handily beat the Stanco Stampede team 66 – 54 to secure 3rd place! For many of the boys this was their first experience in such a large venue. Over 900+ teams were there, all types and abilities. The Convention Center was pretty overwhelming, with whistles blowing all around, loud yelling, constant movement, bright lights, strong players and yet our boys played with class and sportsmanship. Thank you to all our Coaches for their time, support and guidance (did you realize that we had 4 coaches assisting the 7th graders and not one of them has a child of their own playing on it?), and to all the team managers for their endless arranging, and to the parents for their constant sustainment of their children and the team. One of the dads said it pretty well in his posting ”Stay together…forever. Not just as players on a team but as brother for life."

Uptempo Hoops is one of the greatest families around!


Submitted by M. Irwin (6th grade TM):

Reno's Jam on It weekend was a great experience for us as a team and family.  Despite the warnings about the magnitude of the crowds and chaos, we were pleasantly surprised with the organization of the massive event.  Our first out of town tournament with the whole Uptempo Hoops family was a huge success.  Great games were played with some heated and painful losses but the best part of the weekend was definitely the camaraderie and friendships that our players and families shared throughout the weekend on and off the court.  We played and cheered together, watched each other's games, broke bread together at our Bully's night out, had Circus Circus get together, mobbed breakfast nooks and hotel pools, shopped at the outlets, and even squeezed in an early morning pre-game hike!  We'd do it all again and more...and are already looking forward to next year! 

Until next year Jam On It!!

Submitted by L. Haastrup (new 5th grade mom):

                                

The trip to Reno was a wonderful experience for not only the boys but for  myself as well.   It was a great way for me to  meet and get to know the other families from Uptempo that I had only seen at practice.  Thanks to Liz Narciso for setting up the early morning hikes at the nearby Michael Thompson trail on Sunday and Monday.  The  views from the rugged trail were spectacular and the hikes energized us to cheer the boys on at their games.  I was impressed with how spontaneous the pool party came about from just myself supervising the boys playing in the pool to Rene and others bringing down wine, drinks, and snacks 15 minutes later!  What a perfect way to unwind with the  parents chatting and having a good time while the kids played in the pool after their tournament games.   It was neat to see the Uptempo spirit continue on with the dinner at Bully's Restaurant Sunday evening.   Reno showed me what it is like to be part of the Uptempo Family.  I am fortunate to be a part of this family and am looking forward to what Reno has to offer next year!!!

Submitted by A. Singh (6th grade TM):

We had a great time in Reno!!  It was fun to watch the boys play.  The get together on Sunday evening at Bully's was also fun and we enjoyed meeting everyone.  Great experience for the teams and the families.

Submitted by A. Griffin (new 4th grade mom):

No, not Oracle.  Reno Sparks Convention Center

Given this was our second straight year going to the Reno Jam On It tournament, we were in awe of the growth of the number of teams. At 960 teams it was 200 more than the previous year. That said we had an awesome time being able to watch the team compete and give it their all on the court. The wins and losses are very secondary to just having them be able to experience how big the game is and to be a part of it. Our coaches did an excellent job getting the teams ready and the Uptempo families did a great job in supporting them. Having the boys and all the families together for meals and just to hang out was rewarding in itself. We could not have asked for a better experience and hope we can go back next year!

Final Thought:

We couldn't ask for this event to have been better.  Everyone walked away wanting more basketball and more social time with each other.  We are very proud of the organization.  Every family, every player, every parent is such an integral part of this basketball club.  We thank the coaching staff:  R. Inciong, G. Otico, R. Narciso, J. Peterson, J. Irwin, B. Bautista, S. Ilustre, R. Tria, R. Noriega, J. Fitzgerald, B. Sangco, Q. Evans and C. Bermudez.  Our coaches are doing a great job of turning our young boys into competitive and confident men. 

We are already looking towards Reno next year.  This was a great experience and a great way to start off our summer.  Our Family grows in numbers and in strength and in skills.  This is an organization to be proud of.  Go Uptempo!!