Athletics News

Women's Basketball Visits China

The Emmanuel College women's basketball team flew to Beijing over winter break, playing exhibition games, climbing the Great Wall and experiencing the culture of China



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December 27th-28th, 2007

The Emmanuel College women's basketball team departed for Beijing during the early morning hours of Thursday, December 27th. For the Boston-based members of the 38-person party, which included players, coaches, athletic trainers, as well as staff, friends and family members, a coach bus was awaiting at 8:00 a.m. on the College's campus to transport them to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, where they met up with fellow members of the group either en route or at the airport terminal. All were excited to get the once-in-a-lifetime adventure underway, one which would soon carry them halfway around the globe to witness firsthand some of the world's most amazing sights.

While waiting for its flight, the group happened to stumble across a recent Emmanuel graduate, Wesley Przybylksi '07, who was on his way to Egypt to meet up with his girlfriend for a few weeks of traveling and sight seeing as well. He said he was eventually making his way over to Prague, where he had previously spent a semester studying abroad, and would begin teaching English as second language for the next few months. Przybylski was excited to hear about the Saints' impending journey to Beijing and noted that this was not the first time he has randomly bumped into the team during its travels, as he previously ran into them a few years back when they were out in Venice Beach for a tournament.

Despite a few delays, the Emmanuel crew was in good spirits when they finally took off aboard Air China flight CA 189 bound for Beijing on Thursday evening. The nearly 14-hour flight carried the group upwards over the North Pole and 13 hours into the future, touching down around 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 28th (6:00 a.m. EST).

Upon reaching their destination, members of the group were elated at the sight of a number of familiar venues, such as KFC, McDonalds and Starbucks, the latter of which elicited the biggest sigh of relief after a long day of traveling. Exiting the airport's walls, the Saints quickly discovered another similarity to Boston via the weather conditions, as they were welcomed by the city's cool 32-degree temperature. As they boarded a bus and began driving towards the Holiday Inn Temple of Heaven, the group got its first real look at the Chinese metropolis, which with its busy streets, towering buildings and colorful signs represented a surprising comparison to that of New York City.

Once the group reached the hotel around 10:00 p.m., a quick meeting was held with members of the BIG staff to review tour details before the Emmanuel crew dispersed for the night. Weary from a long day of traveling, the group members retired to their rooms in preparation for the next days events...

December 29th, 2007

The Saints headed out to Guangcai Sports Center in the morning to participate in their first official team practice in three weeks. With their first game against Chinese competition just a few days away, the team got in a quick workout before heading back to the hotel to meet up with the rest of the group in preparation for the day's events.

At around 1:30 p.m., the entire group set out for its first real look at two of Beijing's more popular historical attractions, the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.

The Forbidden City, known today as the National Palace Museum, lies at the center of Beijing and is one of the most complete historical sites in all of China. For five centuries the complex served as the imperial palace to Chinese emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties, housing a total of 24 rulers from the year of its completion (1420) to 1924, when the last Chinese emperor was driven from within its walls. Spanning a full square kilometer in size, it is the largest palace complex in the world, housing 9,999 buildings within its high walls.

Starting out at the northern entrance of the complex, the group passed through the Gate of Divine Prowess, taking a second to snap a few shots of the building's exterior before entering. Many were in awe of its great size as well as the lengthy moat surrounding the structure, which due to the bitter winter cold had been completely frozen over.

The first sights the group witnessed were those of the Inner Court section of the palace, which once served as the living quarters for the emperor and his family. As everyone slowly traversed the 960-meter journey to the southern Tiananmen Gate, each had the opportunity to walk through a number of different buildings, halls and museums along the way, experiencing the complex's unique architecture and design up close.

As the players entering into the palace's Outer Court, they were happy to see two playground basketball courts along the walls of the royal city, where off-duty guards were shooting hoops. As they completed their journey and made their way to the street directly across from Tiananmen Square, they looked back to see the gigantic portrait of Mao overlooking the busy streets and walkways of the city's center.

After completing its trek, the group made its way to the bus to thaw out due to the frigid winter cold. After a brief rest, however, a smaller group decided to brave the elements and return to the square to witness the daily ceremony for the lowering of the Chinese national flag. Walking back through the 440,000 square meters that make up Tiananmen Square, the group immersed itself among the throngs of people awaiting the ritual's start. Minutes later, two lines of Chinese soldiers began marching across the street from the palace towards the flag. Trained to walk at exactly 108 paces per minute, the whole square came to a halt as the soldiers made their way across the hectic main avenue and lowered the massive flag. Despite the chilly breeze that continued to sweep through, everyone who dared to venture back into the cold for the special ceremony agreed it was well worth the effort.

Once the smaller group made its way back to the bus, the entire Emmanuel crew was off to experience its first true Chinese dinner at Beijing's famous Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant. There they sat down to sample a variety of cuisine highlighted by the roast duck, a "must-try" for any visitor. Chefs entered the dining area to cut the duck in front of the crowd, adding to the splendor of the entire event.

After dinner, the group returned to the Holiday Inn Temple of Heaven for some much needed rest. On many people's minds were thoughts of the next day's journey, which would take them nearly 50 miles from the city to see one of the eight wonders of the world - the Great Wall of China...

December 30th, 2007

Departing from the hotel at 9:00 a.m., the group set off by bus for the roughly 90 minute trek north to Badaling, the most visited and well-preserved section of the Great Wall.

Cutting through the city towards the Chinese countryside, members of the group got their first look at the overwhelming mountain peaks that surround the city, catching glimpses of different sections of the wall no longer accessible by foot. As Badaling drew near, descriptions of it appearing like a "dragon winding its way along the mountain ranges" surely rang true. At first glance, few could argue with the amazing snaking structure's position as one of the great wonders of the world.

Originally built to protect China's borders from Mongolian tribes from the north, the wall dates back over 2,000 years and stretches over 4,000 miles along the country. Badaling, the northern outpost of the Juyongguan Pass, once existed strictly as a military stronghold, yet now serves as a tourist site for more than five million visitors a year.

Upon arriving at the scenic wall, the group once again found itself facing icy cold winter conditions, yet little could stop the Emmanuel crew from making the impressive ascent. As the unit began climbing the steep stairs up the side of the mountain, it was hard not to be overcome by the awe of the architectural feat, as well as its picturesque setting among the sloping hills.

At points, the angle of the wall felt as if one were climbing straight up, and the railing along the wall's exterior proved a valuable walking tool. With the wind howling ever fiercer with each step, the group continued to battle its way northward. The few fortresses along the route provided the only relief from the bitter cold.

During the climb, it was hard to miss the newly-constructed sign to the right of the wall. A large advertisement for the upcoming 2008 Olympics, it served as a reminder that the city of Beijing and the country's greatest tourist spots would soon have the entire world fixated on it in just a few months. Just beyond the sign, the group reached the pinnacle of its journey, taking a moment to appreciate the view and snap a few pictures before eventually making the adventurous descent.

On their way back down, a number of players made sure to grab commemorative t-shirts emblazoned with the words "I climbed the Great Wall of China" on them, in honor of their expedition. Boarding the bus for the return to the city, conversations arose as to whether the weather conditions diminished the experience for anyone. Many said they would have jumped at the opportunity to make the climb again if given the chance.

December 31st, 2007

On New Year's Eve morning, the Emmanuel crew set out to visit the Temple of Heaven, a complex considerably larger than that of the Forbidden City. Covering an area of about 2,700,000 square meters, the domain was built during the Ming dynasty to provide sacrifices to Heaven. Its great size was meant to reflect Chinese rulers' reverence for the great above, as no emperor would dare have his own residence be bigger than one dedicated to Heaven.

Walking through the temple's gates, the group was able to see some of the complex's most magnificent buildings, including the Circular Mound Altar, Imperial Vault of Heaven and Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. Many were also impressed by the variety of activities of the Chinese natives throughout the area, as it appeared the temple serves as a popular congregation area for many locals. Whether it was singing, dancing, group exercising or games, the tour proved a wonderful opportunity to witness the country's people going about their daily lives.

After eventually exiting the temple, the group made its way over to Hongqiao Market, where each member got the chance to peruse the local shops and practice the fine art of negotiating. Thanks to advice from the group's guide, Richard, the crew had a better understanding of how to bargain with the vendors, yet even armed with his good advice, it was difficult not to be overwhelmed by the scene at first glance.

Entering into the market, which from the exterior resembled a typical commercial building, the setup appeared to be a mix of both a mall and bazaar. On the top floors, group members could find more expensive items - mostly jewelry - in stores comparable to those in the U.S. As they made their way down to the lower levels, however, the building's arrangement began to take on the look of a flea market, with vendors jumping at the chance to sell to any and every potential customer within arm's reach.

The inexpensive prices certainly caught the attention of the group from the start, and after getting comfortable with the setting, few were impeded by the cultural shock of the experience as a whole. Needless to say, by the end of the two hours of shopping, the bus was a bit more packed on the ride back to the hotel.

After a few hours of relaxing at the Holiday Inn Temple of Heaven, the team departed around 3:00 p.m. for its first game in over three weeks, this an exhibition against Beijing University. One of the top team's in the country, Beijing impressed the Saints with its size and strength, as well as its ability to move the ball around the court. Although ultimately falling 68-40, the Emmanuel players viewed the game as an educational glimpse into the Chinese style of play, and each took away something positive from the first opportunity at international competition.

After the game, both teams exchanged gifts, with the Saints presenting Beijing University with two team-autographed Emmanuel jerseys. Jade Paez '08 led the Saints offensively with seven points. Jacquelyn Pannell '08, Abigail Brenkach '10 and Casey Shevlin '11 chipped in five apiece, as did Kathleen Brice '08, who played exceptionally well in the paint. The Saints next game will be on January 2nd when they take on Beijing Sports University.

January 1st, 2008

On the first day of the New Year, the Emmanuel group visited the Summer Palace, the largest and best-preserved imperial garden in China. Located roughly 10 miles from Beijing, the palace was once used as a summer dwelling for emperors, yet now simply serves as one of the most noted gardens in the entire world.

Almost immediately after the group entered the palace's grounds, it became clear as to why the garden is held in such esteem. Occupying an area of over 700 acres, three quarters of which is made up of Kunming Lake, the Summer Palace is filled with remarkable views and distinctive landscapes. During the warm summer months, one could imagine the area being as serene and peaceful a place as there is on earth, with paddle boat rides and quiet resting areas available for all that pass through the garden's gates.

Making their way around the lake to view some of the complex's impressive architecture, group members ventured up through the Tower of Buddhist Incense, which serves as the centerpiece structure within the palace. At the top of the tower, the group was able to take in a comprehensive view of the garden, looking out past the frozen lake towards the mountains and city in the distance.

Passing back through the gates at 1:00 p.m., the group - 13 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time - stopped to celebrate the official start of 2008 with a collective cheer. A number of the Saints' players, who had learned how to say "Happy New Year" in Chinese, made a point to wish goodwill to locals before boarding the bus to head back to the hotel.

January 2nd, 2008

With a few hours of shopping the only activity on the morning schedule, the Saints had a rather relaxing day Wednesday before making their way over to Beijing Sports University for their second game of the trip. After a busy first few days in which everyone witnessed some of the country's most spectacular sights for the first time, no one was prepared for the next first China would hand them - let alone one that would occur on the basketball court.

With the score tied 76-76, Beijing Sports University elected to end its contest with the Emmanuel women after 48 minutes of regulation play, resulting in an unprecedented tie. Despite looking forward to another quarter against their worthy opponents, the Saints gracefully accepted the decision due to the good nature of the game, and were especially appreciative of the enthusiastic play of the defending city champions.

Looking to improve after a disappointing loss earlier in the week, the Saints unfortunately found themselves struggling out of the gate, falling behind 9-0 in the first few minutes of play. Utilizing their quick defensive schemes to jumpstart their offense, the women fought to get themselves into the game, slowly finding the momentum that had eluded them during the previous match. After a put back by Abigail Brenkach '10 tied the score at 20 apiece early in the second quarter, the Saints appeared to be firing on all cylinders, opening up a seven-point lead thanks to a 10-3 run. Their Chinese counterparts responding with a run of their own, however, would leave the Saints trailing at halftime, 38-32.

In the third quarter, guard Jade Paez '08 started to find her groove, sinking nine of her team-high 19 points to keep her squad within striking distance. After Iman Davis '10 and Maura Mooney '08 assisted each other on back-to-back baskets to bring the Saints within three, Paez scored the final six points of the quarter to tie the game at 58-58 heading into the final 12 minutes of play.

A couple of devastating three-pointers from the sharp-shooting Beijing Sports University players, mixed with shots failing to fall for the Saints, again led to a surge by the home team, resulting in a 70-62 lead with just over five minutes left to play. Thanks to the Davis-Mooney tandem, the Saints once again battled back, with the duo combining to score the next eight points to cut the lead to three. Two quick steals and subsequent baskets quickly gave the advantage to Emmanuel, 74-73, bringing the team's cheering section to its feet for the final 1:45 on the clock. While another steal and basket by Davis had all the signs of setting the Saints up for the win, an intentional foul call and final minute lay-up for Beijing evened the score once again, this time for good.

As a team, the Saints put together an especially impressive defensive showing as they combined for 22 steals, 13 of which occur in the second half. Paez led the charge with seven, followed by Davis, who finished with six, and Casey Shevlin '11 with five. Offensively, Davis finished with 17 points, with Leah Lipschitz '08 (11 points) and Brenkach (10 points) also reaching double digits for the Saints.

Satisfied with the effort, but still a little disappointed in the surprising outcome, the Saints and the rest of the crew left the university's campus to grab a bite to eat before heading back to the hotel. En route to Beijing's Hard Rock Café, the group was able to get a look at the upcoming Olympics' main stadium, dubbed the "Bird Cage" due to its nest-like architectural design. The group's guide, Richard, pointed out that the arena will not only serve as the location for the track & field events, but the Olympics' opening ceremony as well.

After dinner, the group got the chance to thank Richard and the other members of the Beijing International Group (BIG), whose unwavering hospitality has played a vital role in the success of the trip. Each BIG staff member was presented with a gift by the Emmanuel crew along with cards signed by everyone from the 38-person party.

Finally arriving back at the hotel around 9:30 p.m., players and coaches took the opportunity to pack a few items in preparation for their early departure to Guangzhou, where they would play their final game against the Jinli All Stars.

January 3rd, 2008

At 6:00 a.m. the Saints set off for Beijing Airport to catch a three-hour flight south to the city of Guangzhou, compliments of the Jinli company, where they would compete in a final exhibition game against the company's sponsored all-star team.

Touching down just before noon, those who had been bothered by the cold weather encountered earlier in the week immediately found a reason to smile, as sunshine and palm trees were the first to greet them as they made their way outside. Arriving an hour later to the hotel, team members took some time to rest from their morning travels before making their way over to the night's game venue.

Pulling into the sports ground's parking lot, the Saints were collectively awestruck by the scene inside the stadium's doors, as a sell-out crowd of 1,500 people awaited their arrival. With music blasting across the arena's loudspeakers, a group of local teen cheerleaders performed at center court. As the team eventually began its warm up routine, an announcer excitedly continued to pump up the crowd, while children took part in a quick shooting clinic under one of the baskets.

While the Saints initially appeared apprehensive about playing in the midst of such an electrified atmosphere, it took only a few minutes of game time for them to calm their nerves, as they soon realized the raucous crowd was cheering less for a hometown win than a stirring basketball contest.

As the teams continually battled for the lead throughout the second half - during one stretch matching each other shot for shot, much to the excitement of the masses - Emmanuel coaches and players alike found great enjoyment in pandering to the fans, many of who appeared to change their team allegiance within the timeframe of the match. Unbelievably, the women battled their way to an 87-87 score - their second-consecutive draw of the trip - as both teams once again agreed to end the friendly bout after four competitive quarters.

After the game, players posed for photographs with fans and many took home souvenir posters made specifically for the event. They traveled the short distance back to the hotel to enjoy a quick meal before heading off to bed, exhausted from a game that was for many the highlight contest of the China excursion.

The next day, the team had the opportunity to tour two of Jinli's local factories before heading back to the airport. Meeting a few of the company's executives, the Saints collectively thanked them for their hospitality during their short stay. Boarding an early afternoon flight back to Beijing, the team eventually arrived back to the Holiday Inn Temple of Heaven for its last night of the nine-day expedition.

With their tour of China all but complete, the immensity of the sights and scenes the Emmanuel crew has witnessed during its stay have surely yet to be fully realized. Over the next few weeks, after souvenirs are distributed to family and friends, photographs placed into albums and daily lives returned to normal, group members will undoubtedly have the chance to look back and fondly reminisce.

In just over seven months from now, when the flame is officially lit to begin the XXIX Olympiad, here's hoping it may also rekindle memories of a journey that was nothing short of unforgettable.