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!!