Though the feat has not exactly changed my being a non-fan of Kobe, I still think that it is worth writing a column about.
Would he have scored a hundred had he not sat out the fourth quarter? I think so.
In my whole life, I have seen a person score over a hundred points in a game only once. That was when Felix Duhig, Jr. of the Cebu Institute of Technology burned the hoops at the USC Gym in a game against the Cebu State College of Science and Technology in the Cebu Amateur Athletic Association.
The CAAA, which is the predecessor of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI), is however a different kind of competition.
People were already leaving the USC Gym not wanting to watch a very lopsided game, but then when Duhig suddenly started nailing his triples and making his points, we stayed and watched history unfold.
I never got a chance to see another 100-point performance since then although I know of two instances in the Cebu Eastern College Alumni Basketball Association (CECABA) where people like my good friend Chester Cokaliong and Donald Ting scored over a hundred. Chester made 103 in one game and several days after that, Ting logged a tournament-record of 129 points.
While people who can score so many baskets are also referred to as ball hogs, you cannot also take away the fact that they made those baskets.
Okay, even if there was no defense, can you score that easily?
Even the greatest basketball players in the NBA miss freethrows.
What makes Kobe's feat great is the fact that he did it in an era where the defense of teams have been shored up. He did it in the world's number one league. And he did it as a rather short 6'7'' player against the giants of the NBA.
I believe Kobe has the stuff to light up the scoreboards and the history books of the NBA, but I also sincerely hope that the guy would also bear in mind how much he influences other people and that he should set a good example.
Scoring 81 in a game is a good example and the fact that he had no qualms about sitting out the rest of the game.
That was something worth lauding. I still can't get over it. So do many Kobe fans and non-fans.
Gordon 'Dondi' Joseph is inviting everyone interested to attend this two-day clinic open to males or females from 8 years old and up.
This event is jointly organized by SEA Games silver medallist Dondon Sombrio and Dondi, who is also well known for Darras+Bowler. This is in cooperation with Sandtrap and Cebu Learning Center Clint Sayo, a former national team standout, now a coach, will be coming over to conduct the clinic and there will also be members of the Philippine team that will be here to assist.
The Cebu Archery Club (yes folks there is a local archery club), headed by Chokie Velasquez is also supporting this event.
There would be sessions for basic and advanced techniques plus outdoor sessions to try your newly-learned skills.
If you would like to join this clinic, please contact 0918-9339567.