The Manado Independent School (MIS) women’s basketball team finally came out as champions of the 2021 Honda DBL Manado Series. MIS’s victory dominated the prestigious basketball competition among high school students on Thursday, December 16, 2021, namely the champion of the women’s basketball team (5 on 5), champion of the 3×3 basketball team women, UBS Gold Dance Competition champion, 3×3 runner-up for men’s basketball team, Women’s MVP by Kezia Supit, Women’s First Team by Brylia Tumanduk and Kezia Supit, and Women’s First Team Coach by Michael Pangkey.
Renaya Dendeng, captain of the MIS women’s basketball team, expressed her joy and gratitude for the victory. She is happy because Honda DBL can be held again and especially for the alumni who were unable to play in the last 2020 season due to the pandemic but this year they were given the opportunity to participate in the 2021 DBL series event. Renaya admitted that one of the keys to the success of their team is good cooperation, “It is not easy to build chemistry and have the same goals among players, but I try to eliminate the distance among players by having good communication in order to form our relationship more solid so that on the field, we can complement and remind each other. I also like to remind my friends to always listen to the direction of the coach so that the game system can run well. And with God’s help during the game our team was able to give the best performance that we could do.” Renaya added that several obstacles were encountered before the DBL competition, such as very minimal practice time due to limited movement during the pandemic, then a week before the competition is also the schedule for the school exam; but the existing obstacles did not prevent their team from doing independent training at their respective homes.
“For coaches who work behind the screen, you are the greatest. Patience, sacrifice of time, and desire to coach this team is not an easy thing. The medals we got are the result of the hard work of the coaches who have trained us; for the final moment, we would like to say our sincerest gratitude. And for basketball athlete friends, always remember that nothing is impossible. Losing is not the end of everything, but it is a time where you have to learn to get up. Everything needs a process. And remember that before we reach our highest point, there are stumbling blocks that must be overcome first. But never give up, keep trying and always rely on God.”
Brylia Tumanduk also felt happy, who was re-elected as the Women’s First Team. Previously, Brylia had won the DBL All Star 2 times and had been on a tour to America. She admitted that she was surprised when her name was mentioned again because during the filling game she did not play, because she had just finished competing in the student league which is simultaneous with the campus exam schedule, so she only played right in the semi-finals, “I always give my best in every match, and thank God for being able to be elected again for several times as the first team. Of course, I am very grateful to all my teammates, and coaches who always trust me with responsibility, I will not waste this opportunity.” When she saw the performance of her team’s game, Brylia felt that it needed to be further improved from the player’s side, because for DBL in the future there were many seniors who could no longer play because they had graduated, so they had to support each other, build team chemistry because of small things that sometimes can make a strong team. The MIS victory was the beginning of the women’s team getting back on its feet after several years of failure, this was also the end of Brylia’s game in the MIS women’s basketball team because she had to continue her education to college level. “Finally, here we are. We bring the trophy back home. Thank you coach Michael, coach Ryo, Coach Romy, Coach Leo, Coach Kathlen for everything you have done for me personally, for all the efforts and help to be where I am today. Thank you very much for the opportunity. For MIS, thank you very much for all the experiences, ups and downs, sadness and happiness, and disappointments which contributed to my strong-willed personality. Thank you all, teachers, administrators, janitors, especially to our parents, you are amazing people. Brylia Tumanduk, signing off. Always remember to do your best in everything, don’t give up easily, don’t be afraid to fail, because failure can train a strong athlete physically and mentally, do your best, from small things. Because it’s the little things that can make us humble and strong athletes! Cheer up!!”
