Shout out loud! We won!

Happiness and excitement will never be able to express how I felt yesterday the moment the buzzer went off.

Anyway, let me explain. We played another five matches in the weekend and we lost all of Saturday’s games. However, my team wasn’t too upset about it since we did not feel like we played very badly. In fact, we were laughing over the funny and amusing stuff that happened during the matches over our debriefing.

On Sunday, we were up against NUS again for the IVP category. We lost 1-3, but, we felt pretty good over that single goal

Then it was a six-hour wait till our next match in the afternoon. I spent it by sleeping, eating, watching a match or two and talking with Siao Jia. I think the afternoon sun kind of sapped up our energy because by the time we got into our boats, Jolene went, “I feel like sleeping.”

We were playing against NUS again but this time, it was in the Opens category. We drew a game with them last week in the first round robin.

Our first goal was so sudden that everyone was so surprised. I think it was because when that goal was scored, most of my teammates were already heading back to defend. Plus, it was within the first minute of the game.

I guess Joycelyn getting the first ball always throws the NUS team off. Not to mention we got the first goal in

Poi! We did it! Our attack plan worked! Finally!

I did not see our second goal (since I was capsized underwater) but my team told me it was such a beautiful shot over the keeper’s paddle When they scored a goal, we felt that we simply cannot let them score another because drawing this game would be quite pointless when all we want is to win.

So when the score was 2-1, the countdown from 10 started and we had the ball in our possession, we all could feel that we were going to win this match. So when the buzzer went off, all of us were screaming with joy. Geok Cheng threw her paddle; I banged the boat (I hoped that wouldn’t cause too much damage on that boat!).

When we got off the boats, Lilin went around hugging us (emo kid! haha), Teresa still kept screaming now and then, we were all so happy and we kept giving our shrieks of joy. Even Stanley gave us the thumbs-up sign. And we have to really thank him for coaching us

And, of course, how can we ever forget The Man who believed and supported us all the way? Kang Jun deserves every bit of credit and praise. He has always stood up for us, supported us, encouraged us, taught us, and believed in us. For everything, thank you ??!

Perhaps another reason why we were so elated was because earlier on, NUS won TP to clinch 3rd place for the IVP category. And I guess it is a tad mean to be stealing their joy

Team hug!

Geok Cheng, Joan, Lizhen, Lilin, Teresa, Jolene, Me, Joycelyn and Kang Jun

I ♥ my team

Another exciting thing is that Jolene and I got our Crumpler bags! At a cheaper price, too We got the Navy/White/Red The Fux Deluxe bag. So exciting, sister!

Well, two days of matches are over. So are four of our games. I guess you could say it’s good and bad.

We played with Devlin 2 on our first match on Saturday. Jolene and I were saying that if we lose this match, we might as well quit canoe polo or something since Team Devlin consists of juniors from NP.

We won 5-0 but we played quite a bad game. We made many bad passes, missed a few open shots and did not give our 100%. The next two matches of the day made us more demoralized. Our second match was an IVP match against TP and of all referees, we had a referee who did a bad ref job in one of our matches in SRRR.

We lost 1-5 and most of us were pretty down. When it was time for our last match of the day, it was pretty hard to carry on fighting since we were up against TP Munchies who is an alumni team.

We lost 0-10 and I felt rather lousy when they scored their 10th goal because it was like SRRR all over again because back then, during the final minute or so, one of them yelled to make their score a double digit. When they were still at their 9th goal, I told myself I wasn’t going to let them score another. That’s why I still managed to block two of their shots. But I guess it’s meant to be another event where history repeats itself.

Stanley was lecturing us the same way he lectured us in SRRR. And it was right after the match with the same team. But I guess we could all feel that there wasn’t any bond nor chemistry between all of us and that was what I was quite disappointed in.

So we talked things out, said how we felt about everything and encouraged each other to give our best for Sunday.

Sunday’s match against NUS was a should-draw-but-try-to-win match since they are a team that has more experience than us. But by the 6th minute into the first half when we managed to score a goal, it became a should-win match instead. But I guess it wasn’t really meant to be when I let their goal in I need to bring home Daren’s paddle and practice at home or something.

Anyway, as Stanley said, a goal would greatly boost of morale. And even though we drew the match, we could tell that everyone was in better spirits. I guess we all went home, had a good rest and tried not to think about the losses.

Something random:

Jolene and Kang Jun pulling each others’ hair as Lilin pose along

I think Jolene’s going to kill me for posting such an unglam photo of her

Anyway, my package finally came!

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On Sunday, Team Artello (minus Lizhen) had dinner at Kenny Rogers at Marina Square with Kang Jun and Janneth. It was a combined dinner for both of them since we wanted to show our appreciation for teaching and guiding us for months for the former, and a gathering before the latter goes into BMT.

Food was great! Great because they had my macaroni and cheese I remember back in the past, I refused to eat Kenny Rogers if they had no mac and cheese.

The Man paid it all and refused to take any of our money. He said that all we needed to do was train hard for National Championships.

Jolene’s not too happy she’s on the left

Blossom is my favourite puff girl!

Trying to open our eyes really wide to see the purple contacts

There was this point where Jolene and I went to 7-Eleven to grab some drinks and the cashier kept giving us this rather amused look. He kept looking back and forth between Jolene and I and I thought he wanted to check my ID or something (since I was buying this really small bottle of vodka) and probably thought we were below 18.

All of a sudden, he went, “Youngest?” and nodded at Jolene’s direction. It took me a whole second for my gears to click in my brain.

“Yeah,” I grinned at him. It’s easier to just say yes than go through the whole process of explanation

After dinner, we went to Esplanade to talk and slack around. Well, and to take pictures, too

Me, Lilin and Jolene

Joycelyn, Me and Jolene

Team movie was not much of a team thing since Lilin and Lizhen were not present. But we had fun watching PotC3 with Desmond, Daren and Jun Wei.

The movie itself was interesting. I was never interested in PotC until the trailer for At World’s End came. And, no, I have still yet to watch the first two.

If you asked me, I would not mind watching it again. I especially like the marriage part. But I would love to skip the part where there are partings. And especially the extra scene at the back way after the credits.

(Seriously, waiting &$*#$& minutes for a %$#* scene?!)

The finals for SRRR were held at the Singapore River itself on Saturday. It was a very tiring experience for me because I had no rest the night before and had a full day ahead.

Everything was delayed. So Geok Cheng, Teresa and I met Jolene at Clark Quay MRT station only to head to MacDonald’s for breakfast. I think I kind of snoozed while everything was being set up. At 10 a.m. (when the first match of TP 1 and Monsters Inc. was supposed to start), the guys were still fixing the goal post and the lines. So Jolene, Joan and I went to MacDonald’s again where I had my second breakfast.

(Note to self: Depression can either starve you or stuff you.)

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We were supposed to play our final two matches on Saturday. But the night before the matches, I received two news that affected me. One was that a team (Torrent) pulled out so we were to play with TP 2. The second news was that we were short of one man–Joycelyn met with a motorbike accident and was unable to play.

I would have thought that my team would be pretty demoralized on the day itself. Perhaps it was because of Joycelyn’s injury. Perhaps it was because she still came down and gave us her full support. Or perhaps it was the final match.

We played… well, rather well

On my personal side, I was actually a bit depressed and down due to several factors. Not to mention I was let down once again. I really should not have hoped too much but I guess one can never really stop hoping, eh?

I guess a surprise visit from an old friend cheered me up. After all, semi-professional photographs of my team would be a bonus

Chasing for the second ball…

… and I got it! Acrobat wins the Vamp!

Just so you know, Acrobat boats (in which my team were using) are very heavy compared to Vampire boats (in which our opponents were using). So, technically, we tend to lose out on speed.

Though we lost the match, we actually managed to score a goal! Our first goal in a national competition! Thanks to our Happy Apple Joan!

It was actually quite an odd match. For one, I played the full 10-minutes half for both halves without subbing at all. And for another, I did not feel exhausted even though the halves were three minutes longer than the matches last week. And the final thing was that somehow, I managed to play the keeper’s role for a few times

Anyway, after our debriefing with Kang Jun, we took team photos!

Teresa, Joan
Lilin, Jolene, Kang Jun, Me, Lizhen
Geok Cheng, Joycelyn

For the rest of the afternoon, we watched the remaining matches, sun tanned, talked, slacked and stoned. I played around with this nifty camera and quite like this picture I took of Michael:

Siao Jia dropped by around noon to watch Kenneth play. I was so glad to meet her after so many years! Now that I think back, we’ve been friends for half a decade already

Man, she looks so elegant, demure and lady-like, I feel like crap right beside her. (Do note that I have yet to bathe when this picture was taken.) Now that I look at the photograph again, it’s like I’m taking a photo with a pretty model

After everything, my team (minus Lizhen since she has basketball training at night), Desmond and Geok Cheng’s sister went to Cafe Cartel at Raffles City for dinner.

After dinner, Lilin and Desmond left. Jolene, Joan and I went shopping while Joycelyn, Teresa and Geok Cheng went to Ben & Jerry’s to slack (where Fahmi joined them later). After our shopping spree, we joined them and we had fun talking about the matches, laughing out loud half the time, indulging on lovely B&J ice cream and waffles and being contented with the company of such great people.

I love my team! ♥

–
I was bitterly disappointed.
But I still had to smile and pretend that it’s okay.
And it really is. Because I understood.

Well, the annual Singapore River Raft Race (SRRR) Canoe Polo Competition started on Saturday. Looks like my team has a long way to go before the Pesta Sukan National Championships.

I realised I look pretty retarded. And for your info, I’m #8.

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