MidValleySports.Com

Wilson honors celebrated alumnus Scott Williams by retiring his jersey

By Matt Schuler

(Hacienda Heights)-The Wilson Wildcats 1986 State Championship basketball team returned to Wilson this past Saturday night to play the program’s current edition and fell 54-51.

The 25th Anniversary Alumni game served as a fundraiser for the school and a reunion of a community of family, teammates, and friends.

The game was an exciting match-up of youth versus experience and went down to the wire and was decided when alumnus David Sanchez missed three-point opportunity at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime.

The reunion match featured the return of Scott Williams, the 1986 Gatorade State player of the year and State Championship team leader, who went on to North Carolina,  the NBA and won three World Championships (91, 92, 93) with the Chicago Bulls team of the Michael Jordan era.

Williams, who played for seven teams in 15-seasons in the NBA and is now currently the Phoenix Suns Color Commentator, was the honorary guest of the night and received a framed jersey at halftime. Williams then watched the unveiling of his old number 54 jersey anchored on the gymnasium wall right beneath the teams 1986 State Championship banner.

Williams was honored by the experience.

“After 25 years its hard to put into words,” said Williams. “Were appreciative to the current varsity team, the coaching staff, and all the faculty, former and present, that would allow us to come back and run up and down this floor one last time before were too old to do it.”

Besides Williams, life after basketball has become one of diverse careers and lifestyles for the members of the 1986 team.

Joel Francisco, who scored 11 points for the alumni, is now a teacher of 16 years at El Rancho High School and is also the West Coast High School Basketball Recruiting  Coordinator for ESPN.

David Sanchez, who scored 10 points for the alumni and had the potential tying three pointer, is the VP of Sales for Streaming Media Hosting and is having his first child this summer. When asked of his most memorable moment of the 1986 Championship run, Sanchez gave all the credit to his most renowned teammate.

“Scott Williams,” said Sanchez. “That guy is a incredible person, an incredible athlete, and the most important thing is that we all were together. We all grew up together. Elementary, junior high, high school, we never took players in. So were all a brotherhood.”

Paul  Barriga, who was first team all league in basketball and dropped in seven points for the alumni, is currently the Director of Product Management for Mojix Inc after four years.

The audience was treated to a exciting game that was tight the whole night. The score at half was 27-24 with the alumni trailing.

The current varsity team lived off fast break points and behind the three point line as the alumni used their size and experience to do the majority of their damage in the paint.

Junior guard Ryan Del Rosario finished with 11 points and hit three 3-pointers  from downtown. Alden Chu added 8 points for the varsity and Jefferey Nibo, the team leader, also had 11.

The 6’4 Nibo also tried to provide some sparks and was looking for a big play dunk throughout most of the game, even attempting a couple of failed alley-oop attempts that failed.

On one dunk attempt, Nibo raced down the court and rose up high for a slam, but was met up top by Williams and denied hard as the 6’10 Williams rejected his dunk attempt and sent Nibo crashing to the floor.

After the block, Williams waved his finger similar to Dikembe Mutombo and then pointed down to the floor, as if to say “this court is mine.”

Williams only scored five points to go along with six boards and three blocks, but was just happy to return to his old home court and display his passion for basketball.

“We had fun,” said Williams. “And we wish the program well.”