Sixth ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP: A MONSOON STORY
By Dan Soggy Sea Cucumber Gernez
After only few sessions of team training, the team, ready for certain, not fully prepared for others, headed to Bankgok for Monsoon’s fifth Asian Champs, to defend their titles for a second time.
After a long ride from the airport, we finally arrived to our hotel and to my surprise; our Bangkok home was beautiful: definitely surpassing our previous Asian Champs’ hotels.
After a good night of sleep, ALMOST everybody was at the reception hall at 7 am sharp, all geared up to go – a little reminder to Aaron, Derelick aka the Train and Sandran aka Chuga Chuga aka the Tunnel that tardiness IS a heinous crime.
The weather was warm and clement; albeit some dark clouds, signs of what was about to be unleashed on Bangkok: a devastating Monsoon.
What a great surprise when we reached the field; tents were up with mats provided, the grass was immaculate and I don’t know about you, but I could already smell a slight but firm scent of victory in the air.
Monsoon vs. Seoul Tan (Mixed):
The first mixed match saw us going against a team from Seoul (with no Koreans?!). It was the perfect match to start and to boost our confidence (I know some of you will think: “Dan, you don’t really need it”, well, even a god sometimes need a little boost). Anyway back to the match: the women really stepped up with their hard runs, especially Alvinia, who scored 2 or three tries. This was a pretty good platform to build on for the rest of the tournament.
Score: 8-0
Scorers: Alvinia, Me and??
MVP for the girls: Alvinia
MVP for the men: since I don’t remember, I will just put my name as MVP: Dan
Monsoon vs. Zhen Kui (Men):
From what I can remember, we did not start the match very well, with no pre-game talk and no cheer; reasons for the lack of intensity during the first minutes of the game. As the match went on, we got into the game a bit more but it was really too little too late.
Takeaway: we were too lazy on the drive, dumps were not accurate which did not allow the dummy to bring some pace. Defense was appalling as we let in easy tries by the Kiwi Brothers.
A quote from our dear captain, Devon “the Iceman” Wong that we would hear throughout the entire tournament but that no one really applied: “Just let the ½ half run”
Score: 3-5
Interesting point to note: first encounter with the Bangers – a tournament-changing experience.
Monsoon vs. Zhen Kui (Mixed)
For our second mixed match, we were up against Zhen Kui. Tough, Tough match. A lot of us (or maybe just me) were tensed for the match, and rushing the play too much. What else to say apart from the fact that the referee’s calls were a disgrace. Among many, many, many other penalties, Tony and Derelick-my-balls were sin binned for inexistent hard touches. (Derelick, in a very feminine voice: “Oh my god, I can’t believe it, it’s my first send off everrrr in a touch football match”)
What to do when you play ¼ of the game with five people on the field? Well if it was another team than Monsoon, as one of my friend used to say “you can just bend over, grind your teeth and take it” or you can draw with the opposition.
Score: 3-3
MVP for the girls:??
MVP for the men: Dan?
Monsoon vs. Monsoon 30’s (Men):
In the men section, our next match was against our own kind, playing against Monsoon 30’s. I will not go into too many details except that for a good 10 minutes, the Monsoon 30’s were up by 1 try to none.
Score: 4-1
During the break: Snack, Ice bin, Sun cream (Whitener for Sandran) and Water.
Mixed matches:
For our next two matches, we went up against weaker teams; a good preparation for the next match against Brotown.
Agaisnt China Devils: 9-0
MVP for the girls:??
MVP for the men: Dan?
Second Agaisnt Southerners: 9-1
MVP for the girl:??
MVP for the men: Dan?
The men’s side also had an uncomplicated match against?? with a convincing 4-1(?) score.
At this stage of the tournament, the whole mixed team was really fired up to play against Brotown, who thought they could be a match to us.
Touch professionals will be talking about this match for a long time to come. It will be remembered in the Monsoon history as one of the best match in terms of determination, focus and sheer willingness to win. Where to start? The great defense, the hard runs, or Derelick 5 meters-forward pass?
Monsoon vs Brotown (Mixed):
THE DEFENSE: Our policy was to save and oh my, did we save. One defensive play stands out from all the others: yes, I know you all remember it and here it is: Tony’s interception. In touch football jargon, we call that a two points play. Why is that? Tony saved a try (+1) and scored off the interception (+1). I will let you do the math.
Once he was gone, there was nobody to catch him. Here is one comment from the spectators’ stand: “He was running so quickly, we thought he’d never stop. I have to admit I was scared he’d run all over us”.
One other characteristics of Monsoon’s defense is our ability to fly in the opponent’s face at supersonic speed, as demonstrated by Andrew “the Millennium Falcon” Kendall. During this match, this allowed us to force turnovers and put their attack under immense pressure.
THE HARD RUNS: This is self-explanatory.
PRESSURE ON THE LINE: This game saw a lot of dives, and half breaks from our part which showed our opposition we meant business.
Score: 4-1
Scorers: Karen, Tony, Me and??
MVP for the girls:
MVP for the men: Tony
Next up was one of the most awaited Men’s matches due to the ancestral rivalry between the two teams: Monsoon vs Bucks.
No matter what tournament, no matter how small the stake, the intensity will always be present.
Monsoon vs. Bucks (Men):
This match was a close one. Due to lapses of attention in our defense, Bucks always had a foot in the game.
In the end the best team prevailed, with a 3-2 score.
During the break: Snack, Ice bin, Sun cream (Whitener for Sandran) and Water.
The mixed team, strong of an impressive win over their “nemesis” Brotown, wanted to confirm this excellent performance against Hong Kong Developmental team.
Monsoon vs. Hong Kong Developmental Team (Mixed):
To eager to play well, our attack was a bit messy with most players wanting to take matters into their own hand.
For the first time in the tournament, Monsoon was down 2 to 1, when Karen “The Wall” Crammer failed to see the line in defense (a notable mistake because so rare), right after Hong Kong got off with an easy try with one of their old man running through the Train and Tunnel with only four of our players on the field.10 minutes to go in the game. Somebody had to step up. And a man, who some believe to come from the stars, descending upon earth with his god-like speed, answered the call. Following a long pass from our dearly beloved captain Devon “The Mastermind” Wong, Monsoon’s hero, after a magnificent catch, grounded the ball to bring the two teams to parity. This was exactly the kind of boost our team needed. From then on, a Monsoon just swept the Hong Kong team.
One comment from one of our supporter (Martin “I-am-not-too-sure-what-the-game-plan-is-so-just-let-me-run’ Trait): “During the second part of the game, you guys (and girls) shifted to second gear and called upon the fury of the elements; it was just beautiful to watch, and I have to admit, I almost started crying”. Ok maybe those were not his exact words, but something alone the line.
Score: 5-3
Scorers: Dan (2),??
MVP for the girls:??
MVP for the mend: Dan?
End of the day. Bus back to the hotel.
Believe me; if a momentous, might I even say, life-changing happening had not taken place this evening, I would not even bother talking about this fateful dinner.
Sensitive souls beware: Anne Goh proposed, yes she did, to Devon. Read the previous sentence one more time. Anne PROPOSED to Devon. Read it one more time. And one last time again.
What can I say? Life is just full of surprises. One might ask: “But then what did Devon say?” The answer, dear friends, will be kept hidden from the masses as its implication could profoundly affect the world as we know it. It is for you to guess. Only those who were present at this historic dinner know what should now be referred to as the Truth.
Enough of this already. I have said too much.
After an eventful night, the team gathered at 8 am, sharp for certain, not so for others, in the hotel lobby. Might I repeat that tardiness is a heinous crime and will not be tolerated anymore.
Bus ride, Sun cream (Whitener for Sandran) and warm up.
First up for our mixed game, we went up against Touch Um. As much as it hurts me to talk about this game, it is necessary.
Monsoon vs. Touch UM (Mixed):
We were taken aback by a stronger team, while we did not play our best touch. Their drives were intense, ours were lazy. Their talking was incessant, ours was almost inexistent. Their ball movement was impeccable, ours lacked width.
Our defense, the pride of Monsoon, was systematically put under pressure with quickies, steps and long passes.
Losing this way is one of the best ways to learn, and honestly, I don’t know about you guys, but this made me want to train that much harder, to improve, meet them again, and show them the Monsoon fury.
Sore: 2-6
Scorers: Dan (2)
MVP for the girls:??
MVP for the men: Dan?
Men’s semi-final: “We meet again” (in a deep low voice) Monsoon vs Bucks (Men):
The team got into the game at the blow of the whistle and was soon to lead 4 tries to 1 with a notable try by the Dan-Aaron pair with the now famous “Daaron move” (let me explain myself: all you need is a magic pass by Aaron “The Flick” Benton and an evasive run by Dan “The Gap” Gernez and here you go: champagne touch football!).
During the later part of the game, the men in yellow, supported by an army of supporters, started to intensify their game but it was too little too late as Monsoon went on to win the game.
Score: 4-2
Mixed semi- final: Monsoon vs. Hong Kong Developmental Team (Mixed)
I have very few comments to make concerning this game. We brought good intensity, played our A game and the deal was closed when yours truly, after a cunning anticipation, intercepted the ball and ran down the whole field while his opponents shouted in despair.
Score: 5-2
Scorers: Dan (3),??
MVP for the girls:??
MVP for the men: Dan
Mixed Final: Monsoon vs. Zhen Kui (Mixed)
Finally. The moment everybody has been waiting. Numero final espectacular.
Zhen Kui saw us as the underdog. All the supporters were rooting for them. So be it. That is when victory tastes the sweetest.
The game started as you expect a final would start: hard and intense. Zhen Kui drew first blood with a well orchestrated move by the Kiwi Brothers that caught our defense sleeping. 0-1.There was no time to dither. On the fifth touch on Zhen Kui’s five meters line, for the first time in my life, I successfully made a long pass to Haseena “The Fish” AllPitchay. I have to admit it felt good.1-1. Game on.
Zhen Kui’s was doing a good job at slowing us down in attack with quick flies. After letting in one more try, our defense switched on and became an impenetrable fortress, similar to the impassable wall of rain the Monsoon is so well known for. Tony “The Tackle” Koh made a great, yet unconventional save on our line. Derelick put his body on the line, swift as a feline, and prevented a half break.
After 10 minutes, the scored was 3-2, after two solid tries by Karen and Derelick. This is the moment of the game when everything can turn around; one has to keep calm. As we approached their try line, I could feel a sense of serenity taking hold of our team. The next 5 minutes were an example of poise and composure. Another team might have yielded to the pressure but not Monsoon. We wore down the opposition with incessant ball movement, and pinned them down on their own line. That’s where the game was won.
As many teams before them, Zhen Kui started to get frustrated and after one of many drop balls, the whistle blew and victory was ours! Oh sweet, sweet victory!
One memorable moment from this final was Devon’s face when the whistle blew: he stayed stoic as Zeno of Citium. He would later say: “I did not feel the pressure throughout the entire tournament, except during the final, when it all fell down on me. I could not process any information anymore. I thought we were going for a drop off.” Now you know how our opponents feel brother.
Score: 3-2
Scorers: Haseena, Karen, Derelick
MVP for the girls: Karen?
MVP for the men: Derelick
On a fine Saturday morning, Bangkokians could feel tremors announcing the arrival of a cataclysmic event.
On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, they understood the Monsoon’s power and could see with their own eyes its devastation. Monsoon finished undefeated in the Mixed category.
After Seoul, Hong Kong, and Bangkok what is next? Where will the Monsoon strike again?
Men Final: Monsoon vs Zhen Kui (Mixed)
The match started with the same intensity as the previous final. The two teams were on the same page. When one was scoring, the other would answer by a try.
It is important to note though that most of our tries were hard earned while Zhen Kui’s were more due to a poor defense from our part.
One problem seemed to be redundant: the lack of momentum in our drive which was due to two reasons: one was the inertia of the dumper and two the runner was not running hard into the ball.
Congratulations to Aaron and Brian for a great, yet simple try: excellent draw and pass from The Flick and good hands under pressure from Brian.
Score: 3-4
Scorers: Dan (2), Brian (1)
This score was a big deception to me because I really believe we could have won this game.
Anyway after two days of extreme and stressful games, now was the time to reap the fruit of our labor: the medals!
And after the prize presentation, which saw the club humiliated when three of our balls were given back to us (WHO is the ball boy? TONY!!), it was time for the court session.
But this, my friends, is another story.
TAKEAWAYS:
Honestly, I was not too motivated to come on this trip, maybe because I thought the competition would not be good enough or just maybe I had a lack of motivation; but what I experienced during this tournament is priceless; and I am very sure many of you feel this way. I don’t even know where to start.
The team spirit and cohesion was simply amazing. We were not blaming one another; we were encouraging each other even in our mistakes and I simply can’t remember a time when I was not laughing.
In terms of touch, I learned so much. I learned that there will always be a team better than you. I learned the meaning of determination and the willingness to win. And more importantly, I learned that no matter what, you will always have a team mate to count on. Give me a moment to wipe my tears away while I am writing this.
All in all, this tournament allowed me to meet a lot of amazing new people, and know the others better.
I arrived in Bangkok somehow unmotivated. Now my love of touch is stronger than ever.
I hope you all had a great tournament.
See you all next year! (Actually there is social this Saturday so…see you Saturday!)
Key Figures:
• Mixed Team
o Number of tries for: 48
o Number of tries against: 19
o Interceptions: 2
• Men’s Team:
o Number of tries for: 21
o Number of tries against:15