The final day, finals and departure (day 15)

All good things somewhere end. We had a Sunday with our captain Jeff still struggeling with his health. While taking a rest after breakfast, he was on his way for some tests in the hospital. Still with fever, almost fainting and not able to attend the final day. 

I went to the venue with an exiting short cotytrip by scooter with my friends from the organisation.

Hong Kong and Australia made an interesting match for bronze. With a strong start Australia took the lead, but failed to score whilst refusing to move and to play the ball. Hong Kong stayed calm and took their shots. Australia lost the game, leaving a fresh and agile moving Asian squad for bronze.

The final between China and Chinese Taipei started with a lot of pressure and scores in the first attacks.

Also here the team with the best start finally did not cope with the momentum of the game, failed to get rid of the pressure and stopped scoring. The yellow squad from the organising country won this final match of the tournament fully deserved.

Af the official closing ceremony of the Asian and Oceania U23 Championships8 players were selected in the All-Star team. Two players were announced as MVP, and of course the medals and the cup was being given to the best thre teams of the tournament.

Time to say goodbye, nowadays selfie time. It was about 5.30 pm that we arrived back at the hotel. A taxi was already waiting for me to bring me to the airport. There I will meet with the staff and the Philippine team, they fly back to Manila an our after I start my trip to Amsterdam.

One time more to say thank you organisation, city of Hsinchu, Korfball Association of Chinese Taipei, the IKF, KNKV and all the volunteers who participated to make this tournament an event not easy to forget.

Xièxiè Hsinchu!

India to play at last (day 14)

Oh, it is just like I have been through in various previous championships, the team performance should work to their maximum perfomance at the end of the tournament. We had some good days, with maybe the first half against Macau as the top.

Still between basket and korf, but the ball starts to be a known friend. Various action seem to be chaotic but are all based on the restriction the rules apply to the game. Players start to grow during our daily training sessions. We have to play, gain experience, but I am so glad we started this roadtrip.

Breakfast - relax - team meeting and departure to the venue. Players are exited, to give their last day some glance with a new chance against India. No nerves, just fun.

And we started without our main scoring player and captain Jeff, some fever left him at his hotel room. But we knew that other players would step up and the team by the hand.

A good start with iron Tyron brought a quick 2-0 lead. India though was the beter team. More forced our defenders to go backwards. Through 10 running in shots and deflicting penalty shots India took a deserved 14-7 half-time lead.

The second half we started to focus on our scoring and we managed to score a record 17 points.

We finished 6th just one spot behind the second biggest (korfball) nation, proud to showed our pride, the tiger cubs just delivered its first growl. We are going to release this animal back and it will grow up and growl again. Will it ever be the king of the Asian forest......? Time will tell.

Of course party, selfies and happy faces, Jeff has to be proud that captain Jessel took so much care of the team today.

Thank you staff for bringing this team to the Championships.

Tomorrow we have the final two matches to decide the medals. Tonight a goodbye to Hsinchu by night. Sunday evening I fly back to Amsterdam. 

Friday, day 13 - team makes history!

As a coach it is always a little demanding when the last days of the tournament the players do not follow the team anymore. When during a day off a couple of half-injured players have an off-day. Blasters, painful legs, back, necks. A breakfast story tells always the truth.

Being on time unfortunately half of the team forgot when we planned a teammeeting just before our departure to the morning training.

We had a good session this morning,used a little more the triangle, but still the passing and posession of the ball is painful. Can hardly believe we wouldn't do better when starting from scratch Monday two weeks ago.

The same ritual, going back by shuttlebus, lunch relax, even time for a 45 minute powernap. Macau China, here we come.

We started very well defensively, we controlled the defence and tried to bring the ball diep into our attack. Unfortunately our first attack had difficulties sticking to the game plan. It is so easy to linger around and play the basketkorf as we did at home. More structure, less chaos and bases on passing.

We made a strong rubpn but after a solid 6-2 we ended the first half with a one-point lead.

Compliments during the break. Girls of Philippines did a great defending job. The guys intercepted almost every first shot. Second half more focus to the structure and build-up of our attack.

The team started the second half wonderful, we extended our lead to a six point lead at 12-6. Then we slowely fell back, maybe the nerves appearred when the first victory in The short history of Philippine korfball started to become reality.

A happy end, we did not give away the 14-12 lead and Saturday August 1, 2015 the team will meet India again to fight for place nr 5. Didn't we play Macau China for the second time as well here in Hsinchu.

Team celebrates and takes an early rest. Another step in korfball!

A day off (day 12)

What to do during a day off, specially if you haven't yet played your biggest game.

Players from the team decided to take it easy, some went to the movies, other went to Taipei to visit some of the amazing sightseeings. A couple just stayed at the hotel and took an extra rest.

I decided to go for a visit to the countryside. Together with our volunteers and the team Indonesia went by train to Neiwan, a small touristic town in the Hills of Hsinchu, appoximately 1 hour traveling.

The town has two streets to buy streetfood and souvenirs, and it has a well known old pedestrian bridge. Actually the gateway to various hiking paths into the mountains.

Whilst taking pictures on the riverside we felt the first raindrops. Most of the teammembers were keen on taking the first train home. Together with one of the Volunteers we started a hike into the deep rainy forest of Chinese Taipei.

After a couple of hours we entered the town agsin. Bought some souvenirs and something to eat end we left by train again, heading to Hsinchu again.

A beautiful day, finally some green after days of concrete.

Players came back and now a good sleep to start making history in the last part of the tournament

Playing China (day 11)

We are closely nearing the end of the tourament. One day before our rest day, we play number one of group B, China. Probably before the tournament many would have tipped Australia on top of this group. But been somewhere closer to the team of China, it is very good to see what development this team has been through. Tall players, sharp shooting and using the full area. Well, that is what the Philippine team encountered on the Wednesday during this tournament.

Being WWF Global tiger day today, some of the players whished to make a surprise today. It wasn't part of the gameplan. Our plan was again to let most of the players take their shots without defending pressure. We should focus on a control, low ball pace and high movement.

Unfortunately we moved again mostly in the direction of the korf. We missed the timing and we were more or less focussed on one person. We used only the first pass to the feed and did not use anthird dimension. We refused to use the passing, the area behind the korf, well actually we forgot mainly all we trained last week. Once we want to be sharp and square at the decisive part of this Asia and Oceania Championships, we should go back to basics. Back to playing around the korf, use our triangle, our passing, moving without the ball only to create a chance....

We started promissing with a halftime score of 18-4. At the end we scored a little bit more, we ended this game with 13 scores and kept China under 35 scores. Once we start to aim for 20+ scores and keep our oponent under 25, we will think about gaining points. Well see what will hapen the rest of the week.

Third game day, Chinese Taipei (day 10)

The days start to get there normal rhytm again. Morning a breakfast, early. Good, good choices but different from the Eurpean one.

Departure at 8.30 am to the sport hall and game venue, just a 10 minute drive.

Arrival, warm up, exercise, shooting, maybe a short line of some tactics, explaining the rules and what that means to the gameplan.

Finish training, shurttle bus, hotel, rest, lunch and than again departure to the hall.

Today the match against Chinese Taipei. Our goal was to fully use the shot clock, get some time when intercepting the ball. Leaving the oponent to shoot without a glance of the defender. 

That finally worked out. We had many attacks, even some interceptions and the end the Taipei players were scorimg aľost 60% of there shots and we had to be afraid of another harsh loss.

In the end we manage to score 13 and conceive less than 50. Our goal was targeted. Players and staff happy and prud. No words from me.

Again back to the hotel, some discussions with the staff. Video analysis with the team and the evening just a walk to explore Hsinchu nightlife again!

Tomorrow we play China to qualify for the World Cup. In 4-5 years this would be the decisive day.

Go Philippines!

Matchday, to show what we are up to (day 8)

Finally, after months of preparation and weeks of training, a couple of days practise with the team and 24 hours of Hsinchu time, Sunday 26 July 2015 the Philippine korfball team played their first match. Oponent Hong Kong, venue Howad Stadium.

Players of course were very exited to be able to show their skills. The staff probably was more focussed on a good result. The warming-up, the team chat, the line-up and of course the referee who started at 3.20 pm local time the maiden game of this young squad.

First attaks were nervously finished by defended shots but once the team lost their final bits of pressure, they started to score.

 It was player number 10 Jae Keenan Yap who scored the first official goal. To be followed by nine more this match. Hopefully the coming years the team will score more and more and focus as well on the defence. hong Kong won the first match on this tournement by 36-10. Captain Jef Denzell Go was top scorer with 5 goals.

Second day of play (day 9)

We start to feel a little bit more stressed today. India arrived and we will play them esrly. Our first loss of calories was during the morning session. We trained to creare more movement without the ball and once receiving always be able to take a shot, maybe the most difficult in korfball but we aim for the highest. We have to improve our passing, get easy on controling the ball while catching, more consiousness on where the korf is positioned once aiming for the shot.

So many actions together while we still are not comfortable with our own defending skills. In theory we know to aim for the ball and give the oponent only difficult shots. But what is theory when you practise this for the first time?

The match versus India started quite well, we had some good shots, were able to intercept but we lacked ability to obtain the ball within the fist two shots.

India had more control and through both long distance shots and running in shots they finally succeeded to score 42. But the scoreboard of the Philippines stopped at a decent 16 goals.

In the evening we had a short chat on the gameplan, tactics and the rest of the tournament schedule. 

A good rest and up to meet the best team of the tournament, the home nation of Taiwan. We just grab a bite with some of the volunteers at the nightmarket to see the country when it is dark.... Well dark, lot's of light and lot's of scooters..

Arrival in Hsinchu (day 7)

A new day and just spending a night at the airport as a teambuilding activity, all sleeping well and 9.00 our hostess Sam welcomed us at the enterence where five small shuttles arrived on time for a 60 km ride to the city of Hsinchu. 

Arrived at the hotel, checked in and had a good teamchat. We got some food, took,a rest and prepared ourselves for the training session.

Getting ready for the match we just wanted players to get used to the court. Some shooting, drills with both moves but also use the various position on both division. Luckily the team from Macau China wanted to play a short pratice match. Twice ten minutes and all players took a chance to show their oncourt skills. We had many shots, rebounds from any place on the court. We are going to focus a little bit more of the quality of our first shot and a more secure passing, but most of all we are going to enjoy.

Adjustments are going to be made in the time schedule, we want to use as much rest as possible, just enjoy it. Together we the staff and the players we had a teammeeting about our goals, focus. Train like it is a match, play the match like it is a training, and we know what we were able to acchieve back home. If you prepare all situations you can expect, we will never be surprised when something hapens. Believe in yourself and try to cross your boundaries. Playing safe and full on control is not going to make a champion out of you.... By playing at the edge, you are going to make mistakes but widen your playground!

We are ready, Sunday we welcome you!

Traveling day (day 6)

No korfball today, just a sad goodbye to the dorm and its owners. Mia, the Wushu coach showed me some more sites at the campus and we visited the small but beautiful museum in the main building. 

Still nice to see that it takes no effort to wake up at 5 am and start you day early here. A complete different shift of daylife and nothing to do with the jetlag. Probably due to the fact that I traveled from Saturday afternoon till Monday morning kept me save regarding a lag in my biocycle this time.

Between 9.00 and 11.00 I attended the Wushu classes and saw some really mouthopening moves, still impressed by this part of Asian culture.

After a traditional lunch, I sad goodbye to my dorm-parents, the Wushu coach and I wait till the other players arrive. The faculty members finish their last papers before leaving the Philippines and not come back till the start of the new University year in August. So there is a nice kind of pressure in the air. More than finishing their work, I hope the players arrive on time for our bus drive to the airport. At 8.45 pm we leave, arriving two hours later to the city of Taipei. Still very curious what our team effort is compared to the other countries present at the Asia and Oceania U23 Championships. The players are exited, the staff is exited and actually I also do feel exitement although also a little bit sad leaving this country without even being able to visit the countryside. We'll see probably next time....

Another day at the office (day 5)

Thursday, our last sessions today before we leave on Friday to the tournament. Well, what a day it was. We practiced our very first set-up, some specific drills for rebound, assist and shot and we paid attention to the rules. Implementing Philippine style play to our tournament gameplan. 

And I was surprised, surprised by the amount of scores, male, female, short, long, static and dynamic. We all had again great fun, scoring Lucky Luke style, loading our pistols and just the ballhandling was great. Will it be enough for the tournament? In seven days we'll know. More important than the tournament results was the assessment of coaching, the real basic goal of the game (score and its preventing by various means). Morning session, than grab a snack (Philippinian style - I am still scared by the duckling egg.... team I promise to eat one.....) and take some rest. 

Than I had a eye-opening experience at the Wushi training, talk later about this, but the silent power, the slow power, the control and the agility is still striving me. Would that be nice to implement in the schedule. I am looking forward to gain some more taste of Wushi on the Friday morning practice.

Before our second training of the day, we had a hour of video. We watched the 2013 final Fortuna - PKC and talk about the various way of playing, the timelapse of the game, the tactic plan, the referee and about where both teams were gaining and losing,  So many moments " what if...."

The afternoon training was about personal assessment, we took ten series of ten different shots, an exercise I practiced at many clubs and teams before. When I tell you that they scored between 20 and 60 with an average of 45 out of 100 shots, than some of the basic skills are really present. So we're talking about 720 scores in a 1,5 hour period. The players took different talisman to use the spiritual power of experience. And they loved it. I actually have to tell you that I really appreciate  the fact that before the training these players come together as a team, pray for a good and injury-free hour of practice, and they start their warming-up session together with a ball per person.

When the session was over, we spoke about the plan, the hours (almost 20 hours of korfball in less than 5 days) and what we learned, what we gained and what we missed. After that we took some photos and we went for a final diner with the staff into town. And still every minute in a car is a wonderful experience. The trafic is so chaotic and maybe only due to the fact that the speed is low, I have not noticed many accidents.

The meal was again great, Philippinean Lumpia, Nasi and Sushi are familiar to my Dutch food expercience, but many more fantastic things I have tasted the last days. Of course fruit and vegetables are between my favourites, the fish is often very good, maybe only the pork and amount of salt I have to get used to.

Tomorrow I will pack my stuff, have a Wushi training and will visit the University before I travel with the team to the airport. I am looking forward although I will miss the crazyness of Manila city. Say one time more so many thanks to the staff of the UST, especially sir Rodrigo Jr Sambuang and also special thanks to the wonderful Mrs. and Mr. Madura for the use of the Dormitory near the University with more than 160 female athletes in volleyball, tennis, swim, basketball, football and track & field. And maybe thanks NLKorfbal for the T-shirts, I am sure we have to collect some money and send a box of orange ones again to the Philippines, they liked the shirt Riko!