Bill's boys are back, one last time

Gearing up for Saturday's alumni finale, old Colts reminisce about playing for Bill Disbrow

Don Fennell, Sports Editor

Ron Putzi, Pasha Bains, Joey deWit and Phil Ens will line up alongside Les Brown, Al Tait, Karlo Villaneuva and other Colt greats from the last 30 years. All hope to recapture a little of their glory days at the annual Richmond High Super Colts Alumni Basketball Tournament.

The round up at the Colt Corral also marks a final farewell to the venerable gymnasium where the players enjoyed some of their greatest success. In more than 1,000 games at Richmond High, which is being torn down in January, the Colts won 92 per cent of the time.

"The Colt Corral was a very special place to play but it was a little old even when I played so maybe it is time," said Tait, the team's and province's most valuable player in 1980. "Our home games were always a lot of fun and the fans are a huge part of the memories."

Opposing teams were always afraid to play in the gym because of the atmosphere, added deWit, a first team B.C. all-star in 1988. "And we always packed the gym every night."

"The rims, court size and stands provided a comfort level and confidence that we could beat anyone," said Bains, who led the Colts to their last provincial triple-A high school championship in 1998 and set a career-best (1996 through 1998) 317 points in 12 games.

The excitement and noise level reached an especially feverish pitch when Richmond high hosted arch-rival Steveston Packers, recalled Ens, a Colt in 1977.

"Nothing can beat the packed gym with fans banging tin garbage can lids and making so much noise you could hardly think," he said. "We still get together for a pint occasionally with our rivals and teammates and reminisce about the old days."

Bill Disbrow, who is back for his 31st season at the helm of the Colts, is the architect of one of the most storied high school programs not only in Canada but around the world. Besides coaching the Colts to five provincial titles he has produced five B.C. MVPs and 25 all-stars.

But Disbrow is humbled by the numbers. He considers his greatest accomplishment not to be the victories but creating a togetherness that remains intact today. He was best man at three of his former player's weddings and is godfather to many of their children.

"For me it's that feeling of family and that we were all part of something together," he said. "The players still feel like that."

When it comes to teaching basketball Disbrow has been more a mentor than a typical coach. He's never really been a game-day coach, preferring instead to do most of his teaching in practice.

"It's all about communication and treating the players as human beings and your equal," said Disbrow, who challenged the Colts to be the best they could be.

Being a Colt meant hard work, long hours and setting goals, said Putzi, the team's MVP in 1988 during the second of their back-to-back provincial championships.

"It has always meant you were ready to battle, ready to sink your teeth into any situation and give it your best until the final second," he said. "I've never seen a Colt team not compete with their lives."

Disbrow's work ethic matched that of his players but he always had time for them. His influence remains apparent even in their lives today.

"Bill gave me my first book in Grade 11 (The Long Walk) and I've never stopped reading since that day," said Putzi, who received a basketball scholarship to New Mexico and went on to play for Canada's national team and later in Europe.

"He taught me the true meaning of teamwork," said Ens, now coach of the R.A. McMath Wildcats. "As well as a proper work ethic he showed that to achieve, sacrifices have to be made and these have assisted myself throughout my career and in my approach at coaching other athletes."

Besides his parents and brother, Bains said that Disbrow has been the biggest influence in his life. He not only taught him basketball but instilled values such as hard work, commitment and the wisdom to become a better person.

"When I look back at the influence he had and still has one me, I don't think too much about the x's and o's as the true meaning of hard work and a desire to get better on and off the basketball court. He constantly wanted me to get better."

Now a star player with the Simon Fraser University Clan after transferring there two seasons ago from Clemson, Bains said being a Colt was beyond his expectations.

"The home games, road trips, practices, early morning shoots are something I will never forget and cherish for rest of my life," he said. "Part of the reason I wanted to play at Richmond High is because of that aura. Before I ever stepped on the floor I knew of the past greats and looked up to the current Colts like Bobby Singh and Andrew Mavis."

Even wearing the Colt uniform and participating in warm-up away from Richmond High created a "mystical" feeling, Bains said, adding he got to experience it all with some of the best friends he'll ever have.

The Colts were one of the first teams to begin travelling afar. Every Christmas for decades now they've planned a trip somewhere to participate in a basketball tournament and learn about the region's culture. Past trips have taken them to Florida, Mexico and Cuba and this year's team is going to Thailand.

"I've tried to get the players to take a learning approach when they visit these places," Disbrow said.

"I want them to explore and try to accept what's there."

While other Canadian teams shied away from playing their bigger American rivals, Disbrow also relished the opportunity to prove that the local kids could match them step for step. His teams frequently hosted U.S. teams and performed very well against them.

"Most of the players at the national team level have heard of the program at Richmond," Putzi said. "I'd say for many years in the 1980s and 1990s few would dispute that Bill's program was the best in Canada and one of the best globally which was Bill's goal from day one."

Saturday's draw

Game 1 12 p.m. 1996-99 versus 2000-03

Game 7 3 p.m. Winner 3 vs. Winner 4