Phoenix hold off Reds for AA championship
The last couple of years have been no walk in the park for Vlad Brundula.
The 17-year-old, Grade 12 student underwent two knee surgeries in the midst of the COVID pandemic and was often confined to sitting in his bed, unable to go out.
“Thankfully, I had a great team to help me through, but it was definitely tough physically and mentally,” Brundula said.
Brundula first tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee about two years ago just as the pandemic was beginning and had to wait until June to undergo surgery. While rehabbing the joint in January of 2021, he re-tore the tendon.
“It was another surgery and whole other recovery session,” he said.
But Brundula worked hard and persisted and made in back on the court for his final season at St. Francis.
Brundula played his final game on his home court Thursday, scoring 10 points to pace the Phoenix to a 55-43 victory over the visiting Denis Morris Reds in the Niagara Catholic Athletic Association senior boys AA championship final.
“It’s just another game but it’s my senior year so it definitely feels better than in Grade 9 or 10,” Brundula said. “It’s bitter-sweet.”
Brundula said he tried to treat the contest like any other game.
“Our theory is we don’t think about what’s ahead of us or the future. We just think about the game. It’s another game and we have to work hard,” he said.
St. Francis coach Jono Marcheterre gushed with praise when asked about Brundula.
“Vlad is the kind of guy every coach wants to have,” Marcheterre said. “He just has this unwillingness to give up. He will never slow down. He’s president of the school, plays in the school band, he’s about an all-around, student-athlete as you get can.
“He brings a toughness to our team. It’s relentless. He’s the guy who is probably a little less skilled than some and certainly his mobility is hindered by his injuries, but there is never a second or moment that he gives up.”
Brundula, who has applied to six universities and is still uncommitted, said he will miss the level of engagement the staff at St. Francis brings to the sport.
“Our coaching staff, everybody here, they’re committed and that shows in the players,” he said. “We’re a family too. Even between the junior and seniors, we’re one program.”
The championship capped off an impressive 8-0 season for the Phoenix, who were set to host the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) playdowns this year until they were cancelled due to the pandemic.
“We take a lot of pride in winning our league and our zone in Niagara Catholic and there’s nothing taken away from this,” Marcheterre said. “We haven’t worried about what we can’t do this year. It’s just been about the next game on the schedule and playing and winning. That’s been our focus.
“We’re happy and proud to have won this trophy and now we’ll look forward and move on to the BPSN Tournament and go from there.”
The BPSN Best in Niagara Boys Basketball Tournament begins Monday, March 28 and will feature some of the top junior and senior teams in the area.
Denis Morris coach Michael Doodeman was proud of a strong effort put forth by his charges.
“I couldn’t ask for anything else,” he said. “One goal today was to leave everything you can. We knew we were the underdogs.”
Doodeman said his players appreciated playing in front of a packed gym.
“Awesome. The fans here today gave our players something to remember. Normalcy is great to see.”
STATS PACK
Phoenix 55 Reds 43
Cat’s Caboose Players of the Game: St. Francis’ Vlad Brundula and Denis Morris’ Campbell Hastings.
For the Saint Francis Phoenix: Quinton Ethier 14; Jack Ciocca 13; Allen Kalonji 12; Vlad Brundula 10; Carter Stoutenberg 3; Andrew Ens 2; D.J. Conway 1.
For the Denis Morris Reds: Campbell Hastings 11; Dylan Maltby 10; Joshua Kaufman 8; Benjamin Vreeken 6; Max Baranowski 3; Carson Mechelse 3; Mike Ukiomogbe 2.
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