We are about 2 weeks away from this year's NACBAIT in Toronto.  We have 3 teams participating at the 2010 event. CYC A will be playing in the Elite division, CYC B will be playing in the Open division, and CYC China Dolls will be hooping it up in the Womens Open division.  I think all 3 teams have a legitimate shot to reach the Final Four and once you get that far, who knows what can happen?  Our CYC A volleyball team exceeded everyone's expectations and made the Finals in the 2009 NACIVT, so we know that anything is possible.  I think it all depends on the matchups.

For CYC A, we have a very solid team once again. Jeffrey Lee was recently selected to the NACBA Top 30 players of all time.  He joins his brother Chris, who was selected as part of the original 25 in 2005.  These 2 point guards give us one of, if not the best PG platoons in the tourney.  They've got outstanding quickness, anticipation, speed, and knowledge of the game.  At the 2/3 positions we have Huy Nguyen, who led us in scoring last year.  He is a slasher type who can also sink the deep 3 , or pullup for the midrange.  I also love him because he can defend bigger guys.  Kenny Ho from LA has also been playing for CYC for a couple years now.  He began in 2008 in Philly but I guess we were undergoing a lot of transition that year and he sort of got lost in the shuffle.  But this guy can really play. He rebounds very well for his size, he can guard bigger players, he can really shoot the ball, and he's a great team player.  Bobby Hsieh is also in this grouping and he's been All-NACBA a couple of times. From whate everyone is saying, he's really getting in shape this time around, and he has been popping shots from anywhere, so he's obviously been playing well.  He took on a reduced role last year as he sacrificed his offensive props for the betterment of the team.  This year, I'm expecting him to play both ends of the court with equal passion.  Then we've got Keith Wang.  He sat out last year since getting from Hawaii to Florida would've put a big pinch on his wallet.  But now he's moved back in with Uncle Alan and Aunt Carol, so he's gunna be in the mix.  We all know what Keith can do. He's also a multitime All-Tourney selection at Nationals, and he's a scorer, rebounder, and defender with a high basketball IQ.  Unfortunately, Jason Lee tore his ACL and won't be playing this year.  He was going to be our athletic SF/PF/C jack of all trades this year who we could throw in there to help create mismatches for other teams. We hope he'll recover quickly. Then we've got PF Hank Huang from AZ/Minnesota/Iowa.  This guy  has played previously with a host of NACBA teams but I think he's found a real home with CYC A.  He is simply an awesome scorer.  He hits the midrange, he hits the 3, he can post up a little, and he's a good FT shooter.  He's a big guy at about 6-2 or 6-3 and he's pretty muscular so he can bang down low with the big boys.  Then you've got Daniel Liu from LA/NY.  Once our rival with the LA Alpine team, I remember that basically it was Daniel who led to our downfall when we played Alpine in the 2002 Finals.  We had no answer to someone who is an athletic and agile 6-4 with superior skills.  It's much better to play with him than against him.  He was huge for us last year as we reached the Final Four.  Our new pickup this year is Brian Liang. He's about 6-5 and he's built like a tank.  He gives us yet another big body who can score, rebound, and defend down low.  In the recent tourney we played in, he was also able to step out and sink the midrange jumper.   Then you got me and Robie filling out the roster.  We're just really coaching the team but if we get in the game at some point, don't expect us to pass the rock. Maybe to each other but no one else.  CYC A has definitely undergone a huge transformation since we started this team at our first Nationals in 1996.  The holdovers from that team are basically Jeffrey and Chris. Keith didnt play that year.  me and Rob are on the roster this year but we won't make any impact.  We have done well over the years, mainly with an undersized lineup.  Bobby joined us in 1999 when he was just a kid.  Keith has been a mainstay too.  But now you look at where we are heading and it's hard to believe this is the same team.  We now have a lot more size with Daniel, Hank, and Brian in the pivot.  We've got some youth and speed in kenny and Huy.  Hopefully this is our year.  We have been a team on the brink of big time success, making a whole bunch of Final Fours, and making a couple Championship games but we have never been able to pull it off.  If we can clear the hurle in 2010, that would be awesome.

This year's NACBAIT in Toronto is less than 3 months away.   We have a couple warmup tourneys in the meantime.  This year's Pre-NACBAIT will be held in New Jersey instead of Philly this year, since I just don't have the time to do it all by myself this year because I am expecting a baby to be born any day now.  So I spoke with NACBA Co-Chair Denny Lee and he offered up the support of himself and the NY Rockits.  Expect the same high level of competition & intesnity that this tournament usually brings.  We will just be in a different environment this year.  As far as I know, the China Dolls, CYC B, and CYC 18's already have made plans to attend.  I dont know about CYC A or the CYC 15's but I'm sure I will hear from everyone.  CYC A is also trying to get together to play in a local Indo-Pak type tournament to face some different competition.  It's going to be tough since many of the players would be flying in from the west coast, or driving in from the NYC area.  But I hope it all works out.

Pre-NACBAIT Classic dates are as follows: Saturday April 3rd- Womens, 18's, 15's at Drew University.  Saturday April 17th- Mens Elite at Citysports on 4.  Sunday April 18th- Mens Open, Mens Friendship at Citysports on 4.

For the Elite division, I know the Ny Rockits, NY Cruisers, Toronto Titans, CYC B, and the the Philly team that I coach (Philly Fastball) are already looking to attend.  I hear the Toronto Dragons may be looking to come down too, and last year the Toronto Kagers made the trip.  USAB usually also makes a good try at coming and so do the Boston Hurricanes and Philly Suns.  So there should be a good number of Nationals teams making up the field.  If CYC A fields a team, it would be a very good tourney.

The Rockits are also trying to get together a small tuneup tourney in NYC in May right before the Nationals. 

As for this year's Nationals- make sure you check out the deals on the nacbait website regarding Air Canada flights.  And also make sure you guys book your rooms quickly at the tournament hotel- the Hilton Suites, since it might be filling up and you guys want to be able to get the room types you want.  All the events will be held at the Tourney hotel, such as banquet, meetings, registration, social events, welcome party, etc. And in case you were going to ask- yes, you do need to get a rental car because you cannot walk to the hotel, or walk from the hotel to the gyms.  We will be at 2-3 different locations since no one gym can accomodate everyone.