As the Bullets franchise continued to prosper, manifest destiny propelled franchise expansion in the form of a women's team. Bullets team members planted the seed through imaginative musings, but it wasn’t until the Full Gospel 3-on-3 tournament that this team would spawn into maturity. The men's musings were providentially mirrored by a group of girls, who had similar aspirations of forming an all-star Asian team; it was a rare occasion where time and space met, or more accurately, Linda, Mina, Scott, Alex, Brian, Anna, Estelle, and Vilan met on that fateful day, and the proverbial snowball began rolling down the snowy mountain side.
The recruiting began: target the best Asian girl ballers, and bring them together in time for the august 7th temple tournament. Dennis, Mina, and Linda began the awkward process of finding Asian girls with a baller rep, calling them, and asking them to join the team for a practice. It worked to some extent, as word got out, though response was initially tepid. The practices were sparsely attended, though through word of mouth, Karen zee signed on, to join the nucleus of players that would commit to Philly: Anna, Estelle, Mina, Linda, Jee, Christine, and Eunha. Nia and Angela, from MD, would join the squad, as well as Jen Kwon, and the team entered the tournament merely desiring exposure to the highest levels of Asian women's basketball on the east coast.
There were numerous obstacles leading up to the tournament: parents, standardized tests, apathy, indecisiveness, accommodations, rides, a huge mountain and ninety four miles in Mt Rainier national park, but dedication and perseverance guided the fledgling young team past these potential problems.
The first game versus NY Sabres provided a rough introduction to tournament play, as the Bullettes lost by four points, in what was supposed to be a mid level game. Other pre-tournament favorites such as Toronto Dragons and NY Cruisers loomed ominously. Coach Christine oh was learning the players and setting her rotation, and after this initial effort, the team realized how far it had to go, as the game represented the first time the entire team had played together.
The second game was versus pending Bullette and generous host Eunice and her Philly Suns. The Bullettes started fast breaking, moving the ball, broke the press of the Suns, and gained confidence from an easy victory, winning by 12 points.
The third game of pool play saw the Bullettes destroy the NY Sabres junior team by 26 points, as the team continued to gel and gain confidence, slowly beginning to come together as a unit. Meanwhile, Anna and Estelle had taken a rather circuitous route to Philly via southern Virginia, but instead of giving up, stayed the course, and 7 hours after departure, finally arrived at temple.
Thus began the playoffs, and Philly Old School. The game was close throughout, as the Bullettes ball movement improved, play after play. The size and experience of old school matched the creative passing of the Bullettes team. Down the stretch, the Bullettes were finally able to hang on for a tense, hard fought, close victory, and the confidence was almost visibly growing, and none too soon, as heavy favorites NY Cruisers waited in the semifinal.
NY Cruisers featured a few big girls and Asian tournament legend Angie Leung. Unfortunately for Angie, Anna decided to drive 7 hours and lock her down, plus a brilliant tactical move instituting a 1-3-1 zone neutralized the Cruisers, and the Bullettes pulled out a dramatic one point victory, thanks to some clutch free throws, incredible ball movement and solid shooting down the stretch. With the shocker over the Cruisers, the Bullettes had but one victory till the championship, with potential poetic justice offered through a Sabres rematch.
The final was a low scoring, slowly played affair, with the Sabres holding
the ball and playing a tough man to man. The Sabres held a slim lead throughout,
until Linda hit a dramatic three pointer, complete with fist pump, to put the
Bullettes ahead in the final minutes. Clutch free throws by Karen, followed
by an intense defensive stand as the clock ran out sealed the Cinderella run
to the championship. Bedlam ensued, and a new tradition had begun. Karen Zee
was named MVP and Linda Kye and Anna Lee were named to the all-tournament team,
though truly it was a team effort that propelled the Bullettes to the championship.