From March 10 to March 14, Gabrielino High School’s Associated Student Body (ASB) hosted the highly-anticipated annual March Madness tournament. Unlike the fast-paced, full-court, NCAA Basketball Tournament, Gabrielino’s March Madness is an intense half-court game with just four players per team.
This year, the Boang Brothers, a strong contender to the history of March Madness at Gabrielino, returned to the court for their third year, aiming to claim their third championship. The team consisted of seniors Trevsu Marvel, Brandon Wu, Jordan Gao, along with junior Nicholas Hoang. Alongside them were several teacher teams and a mix of underclassmen teams.
“Playing in March Madness has been great. I’m a two-time champion – no flex, no self-glaze – but our goal was to get a third ring and finish it off strong like my King, LeBron,” Marvel stated confidently.
The Boang Brothers have won March Madness for two years; however, they were eliminated in the second round, losing 8-24 against the Yassified Ballers, a junior-heavy team of Justin Chia, Noah Dizon, Sean Phan, and Freshman Conner Phan.
On the teacher’s side, the Pretty Pinks, featuring Kenneth Reyes, Ricky Le, Lauren Kawai, and Tiffany Tien, also met their end in the second round, falling to Chopped Cheese. The juniors – Eric Ly, Mason Khuu, Chace Hoang, and Ethan Tran – dominated the game, winning 15-4, with Ly and Hoang draining multiple three-pointers.
As the tournament progressed over the course of five days, the final match-up came in the finals. The Final Bosses consisted of sophomores Brett Kim, Austin Suhendro, Aidan Tran, and Ethan Kwan and squared off against the Yassified Ballers.
“Winning against Mr. Chao’s team was enjoyable. I like matching up with him,” said Kim regarding their earlier victories in the tournament.
The championship game was intense. The Final Bosses won the tip-off and gained possession of the ball, and from there, they quickly set the tempo, with Suhendro and Kim driving hard to hoop for lay-ups and Kwan drilling a three-pointer. By halftime, the Final Bosses held a 9-4 lead.
Despite a late start by the Yassified Ballers, led by Sean Phan’s strong play and a clutch three-pointer assisted by Chia allowed the Final Bosses to maintain their momentum.
Suhendro, who plays on the Gabrielino Boys JV Basketball Team reflected on the game stating, “I really enjoyed playing with my friends because our season ended a month ago and we haven’t played since.”
The Final Bosses maintained their dominance, winning 16-8 and claiming the championship in a well-played final. Kwan’s three-pointer streak and Kim’s relentless drives were key in securing the victory.
“We are all really good friends and I came up with the name, Yassified Ballers, I take ownership of that name,” Chia stated proudly.
Meanwhile, in a more lighthearted match, Mr. Chao’s Team faced off against the Pretty Pinks. The game was full of excitement as the teachers played a half-court game against each other.
Tien gained possession of the ball during tip-off, leading to an easy layup, and Le drained a three-pointer just before halftime. The Pretty Pinks went into the second half with a comfortable 10-0 lead, and despite a comeback from Mr. Chao’s Team, the Pretty Pinks sealed the victory 15-11, marking their redemption after their second-round loss against Chopped Cheese.
“I think sports are invaluable because you build so much camaraderie and it’s such a bonding experience for the community,” Tien reflected.
After a week of intense competition, Gabrielino’s Annual March Madness tournament culminated with the Final Bosses taking the victory 16-8. Their win highlighted not only their skill and teamwork but also the true spirit of school pride and camaraderie throughout the event.
