PAAG '11 Championship RecapWomen's Open Division

SIPAG 34-39 NY Sabres I (OT) 
BOXSCORE

The Women's Final was a rematch of perhaps the tourney's most memorable game, one that concluded with a buzzer-beater from SIPAG's (F) Rochelle Retirado to win it in dramatic fashion. Would the championship carry the same drama? The answer from both teams was a resounding yes.

The Sabres I had just beaten a 2-0 FBNYC team and SIPAG had defeated the NY Rockits to advance to the championship. The final started slow as both teams seemed sluggish. The Sabres struck first with a basket but SIPAG responded quickly with free throws. Later in the 1st half, (F) Cadie Chu is inserted into the game and quickly scores. (F) Angelica Sze and (G)  Maisie Wong answer. At halftime, the Sabres are up by a slim 15-14 margin. Chu led SIPAG with 5 points in the half and Wong for the Sabres with 6 points. The rest of points werre scattered pretty evenly among the rest of each team's respective roster.

The 2nd half continued to be a back and forth type of game as the Sabres would post a 5-point lead and then SIPAG would come right back and tie it. SIPAG however would gain their first 2nd half lead by 1-pt around 2:00 minutes left to play. Sze and (G) Jourdan Chan would answer with jumpers while (F) Karen Deleon was making a living, knocking down free throws. But, the game is tied once again after Maisie Wong makes two FTs in the game's waning seconds. With :03 seconds left, a missed shot by SIPAG would be corralled by SB1 (G) DJ Liu who dribbled out the clock. Overtime. 

In the extra period, both SIPAG and the Sabres struggled to score as all the points awarded were on free throws. The Sabres' Angelica Sze gets fouled and knocks down two free throws; Sabres up two. A turnover by Chu and (G) Noriko Sato is fouled. While at the line she is flagged down for blood from a scratch above her eye, Sato had to be subbed out. Coach Wilson Lew had selected (G) Carmen Ng to shoot FTs in her place but rules state that the other team has the right to choose the shooter.

SIPAG coach Lauren Albano, selected the lone player left on the Sabres' bench -- (G) Ashley Lee. (Sabres Sabrina Cheng and Jessie Lee had to miss the finals due to prior commitments). Ng sits back down and Lee approaches the line.

With just over 1:00 minute left to play in OT and the Sabres up by two, Lee calmly sinks both FTs and the Sabres increase the margin by 4. SIPAG quickly brought up the ball but sharpshooter (G) Chanel Banta would miss a tough shot. Maisie Wong grabbed the rebound and was fouled.

Wong at the line, hits both and the lead is 6. In a botched defensive set, Retirado is fouled on a three and makes all 3 FTs; The lead was instantly cut down to just one possession leaving the door open for perhaps more of Retirado's heroics. Wong is put on the line and makes one, then SIPAG's Karen Deleon is fouled. She makes one, bringing it back to a 3-pt margin, leaving the door still slightly open. 

SIPAG put Wong back on the charity stripe in the closing seconds and with the championship on the line, makes both FTs to finally put it away. That would be the final margin 39-34 Sabres, the first Women's Open champion of the Pan Asian American Games.

Championship MVP 
Women's Open Division
Angelica Sze (SB1) 11 pts, 13 rebs

The Sabres' veteran forward pulled down the only double-double of the tournament. Sze helped the Sabres outrebound SIPAG by a lopsided 29-20 margin. And, despite shooting just 3-11 FGs, Sze converted some of the game's most crucial shots during the Sabres late come back.

It was plainly clear to anyone watching the game that Sze was integral to the Sabres win. It might not have always been pretty but she got it done on both sides of the ball.

Thank you to each and every player that participated this year and we hope to see you all again next year as we continue to expand our tournament!