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Albin's Basketball Diary

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Albin's Basketball Diary

Basketball coach/parent sharing his thoughts on basketball and life in general

10/25/2026

🏆 ANOTHER TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP! 🏆
Our fall season is coming to an end, and this team keeps getting better with every tournament we play.

Game 1 vs TEAM CREWS
A talented team, but a little chaotic and unorganized. We came away with a 19-point win. The referees actually called the game with 2 minutes remaining to prevent injuries or a possible altercation at the end. Smart decision by the officials.

Game 2 vs BATL This one felt different.
I was coaching against my former team, including coaches and some players I've worked with before.
After the game, one of my players, who also previously played for BATL, said:

"It feels really good beating them, but at the same time it felt weird being on the court together but on different teams."

That pretty much summed it up. Definitely some mixed emotions, but a great battle.

CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE LINE vs Carolina Comets
What a finish!

We were down by 1 with just 15 seconds left and the Comets had the ball. We came up with a huge steal, converted the opportunity, and walked away with the win and the championship trophy. 🏆

Long day. Plenty of emotions. A lot of great basketball.

Most importantly, I'm proud of how this group continues to grow, compete, and trust each other.
Tournament Champions! 🐍🏀💪

10/23/2026

“I’M COOKING THEM” 🔥
9 months after his injury, Eldi is BACK, and honestly, it feels like he never left.

As his dad, I'm probably his biggest supporter. As his coach, I'm probably his biggest critic.

My job is to keep him humble, focused on the work, and not distracted by the hype.

Yesterday, after I took him out of a scrimmage, he looked at me and said:
"Dad, why are you taking me out? I'm cooking them."
And truthfully, he was.

Sometimes I feel sorry for him because I don't give him the same praise or recognition that I would give another player. But that's often the price you pay when your parent is also your coach. The compliments are fewer.

I'm proud of the work he's put in to get back on the court. The road back from injury isn't easy, especially for a young athlete.

WELCOME BACK Eldi. Keep working.

For my non-basketball friends:
"Cooking" means a player is dominating their matchup, making shots effortlessly, and playing with a rhythm that's tough to stop. 🏀🔥

10/18/2026

"From 'Coach, I'm tired of losing' to 'We can beat anybody.'
The growth in confidence has been just as impressive as the growth on the court.
Keep believing. Keep working. The best is yet to come. 🔥🐍🏀"

10/15/2026

LAST MS GAME 🏐
For the first time in her school career, Orfea reached the championship game. The gym was packed and every point was met with loud cheers and excitement.

She had never experienced an atmosphere quite like that before, so of course she was nervous. Despite that, she played the entire match and did a great job from start to finish.

Unfortunately, her team came up just short, losing two close sets (23-25, 22-25) against an undefeated Cornerstone team. She was sad. 😢

Orfea has decided to take a break from sports for the remainder of her middle school year.

As a dad, that makes me a little sad because basketball season is next on the calendar.

She’s an incredibly talented athlete and, in my opinion, the best basketball player in school. But sports should be driven by passion and enjoyment. When the desire isn't there, you can't force it, especially during the teenage years when kids are growing, changing, and figuring out who they are.

No matter what she chooses to do next, I'm proud of her effort, courage, and the way she represented herself and the team. ❤️

10/09/2026

THEY DRIVE NOW
Tonight was one of those moments that made me stop and reflect.

I looked over and saw players arriving at practice in their own vehicles. It brought back memories of all the years when my car was full of kids heading to practice, games, and tournaments.

Back then, they were just young athletes chasing a basketball dream.

Now they're growing into responsible young adults, making their own decisions, driving themselves, and preparing for the next chapters of their lives.

As a coach, that's a beautiful thing to witness.

I'm incredibly proud of the people these players are becoming, both on and off the court. Watching their growth over the years has been one of the greatest rewards of coaching.

10/04/2026

8 - PHYSICAL TRANSFORMATION 💪
A lot of 8's happened to Eldi during his injury period.

He started by gaining 8 kg (18 lbs) and reached 80 kg, which made him look like an 8. 😂

To help him get back in shape, we needed a goal. We needed a challenge.
So we created an 8-week challenge.

Eldi was determined to lose the weight and return to his best self. He committed to the process, knowing that the only way forward was through discipline, smart nutrition, and consistent training.

Today, he's back at his original weight of 72 kg (lost 8kg/18lbs) and, most importantly, has regained the confidence to even take his shirt off. 😅

"Motivation gets you started. Discipline keeps you going." ✊

09/28/2026

FINE LINE BETWEEN 🤡 & 👑
SATURDAY - First part of the day started with my 10th-grade team (0-3).

One of my players:
“Coach, I’m tired of losing.”

I’m thinking to myself:
“How do you think Coach feels? I’m out here feeling like a clown in a coach’s outfit.” 🤡😂

Losing is HARD.

The easiest thing would be to point fingers. Players. Effort. Ex*****on. Circumstances. Whatever.

But when you’re the coach, you take responsibility for the L’s AND the W’s. Period.

Then came the second part of the day...
Same coach. Same basketball knowledge. Same philosophy.
But suddenly the 🤡 became the 👑.

My Varsity team went undefeated and won the tournament. 🏆

Now Coach is a genius.�Coach has the answers.�Coach has the keys to winning.
Funny how this game works. 😂

Same day. Same coach. Two completely different outcomes.

MORNING: 🤡�AFTERNOON: 👑�REALITY: COACH 🏀

“You can’t let praise or criticism get to you. It’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.” - John Wooden

09/27/2026

7 MONTHS and 26 DAYS…..
I’ve been waiting a long time to make this post. 🥹❤️

While I was at a tournament with my teams, I got a call from Eldi after his PT appointment.

His PT described his testing with one word:
“PHENOMENAL.”

Then came the words we’ve been waiting to hear:
“You are cleared to go back, with no restrictions from my side.”

Eldi was over the moon. I honestly got very emotional.

As a parent, watching your child go through something like this is incredibly difficult. But watching him continue to work, stay patient, and fight his way back has made me incredibly proud.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who has supported us throughout these tough months. ❤️🙏

WHAT’S NEXT?
We stay patient.

I’m not rushing him back into games. Being cleared is one milestone. Being fully ready and confident is the next.

We keep working. We keep improving. We keep getting stronger.

🏀 The goal is JANUARY
And when that day comes, it’s going to mean a little more than just another basketball game.

❤️🏀

09/20/2026

WHO’S GOING TO TELL THEM?
Wasn’t sure if I should laugh or cry watching one of my teams “prepare” for their game.

3 MINUTES BEFORE TIP-OFF!
Players still walking around in flip-flops, and some didn’t even have uniforms on yet. 😭

At some point, Coach has to stop reminding you to warm up, stretch, put basketball shoes on, and GET DRESSED FOR THE ACTUAL GAME. 😂

I stood there debating with myself:
“Should I tell them?”

Then I decided...
NOPE. 😂

If you’re old enough to be driving in traffic soon, you’re old enough to figure out that flip-flops aren’t game shoes and your uniform should probably be on BEFORE tip-off. 🤷‍♂️🏀

Accountability is part of development too!

09/16/2026

WHEN TRAGEDY HITS CLOSE TO HOME
Heartbreaking news out of Greensboro. Two young athletes lost their lives this season, and it’s impossible not to feel this deeply when it happens so close to home.
One loss came from an on‑field injury, and the other was caused by cardiac arrest.

My thoughts are with both families, their teammates, and the Page and Northwest Guilford communities.

Moments like this make you think about the future of football. Parents today are more cautious, more aware, and every loss like this changes how people view the sport.

It’s a tough reality for a game that has given so much to so many.

R.I.P. Davion Fewell (15) & Caden Sorrell (13). 🙏🏼💔

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High Point, NC
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