Virgen: Team effort helps make Estancia tournament a success

For many, the inaugural Estancia Basketball Community Shootout proved to be fun and painful, yet rewarding.

For Sean Komer, the four-on-four, 16-team tournament was meaningful. The former Costa Mesa High hoops player hit the game-winning shot and made several big plays for his team, “Old School,” for a 21-13 victory over a squad called, “Who Invited Mesa?” made up of Komer’s former coaches.

For an Estancia tournament, the championship game sure had a lot of Mustang flavor.

“It was special,” Komer, who will be a sophomore at Cypress College, said of winning the tournament on Saturday. “I’ve always played against [the former coaches]. Going against them to win something was different. It meant a lot.”

“Who invited Mesa?” featured current Costa Mesa boys’ basketball coach Mike Molina, his brother Brian Molina, an assistant, as well as another assistant Tony Krikorian, and his older brother, Danny Krikorian, a former Mustangs coach.

Komer played on the championship team, that also included: Robert Newman, Xavier Powell, Jordan Dawson and Nick Dawson.

Teams were allowed to have one substitute in games played up to 21 with one- and two-pointers. Tournament director Xavier Castellano, and Eagles’ boys’ basketball coach, had teams play in the main gym, where a DJ was spinning tunes, and the small, girls’ gym, where no music played and you know you had just lost a game.

The Daily Pilot entered a team with yours truly huffing and puffing, but had great support from sports reporters David Carrillo Peñaloza and Matt Szabo, and photographer Kevin Chang. Later in the day, we acquired Mike Decker, the Palm Harvest Church pastor, who helped us avoid complete embarrassment, as we won one game and finished 15th.

We needed more prayers to finish higher, as the tournament featured plenty of talent, including former Estancia standouts Carlos Pinto and Davon Joyner.

Still, the tournament was a lot of fun. There’s just joy to be a part of a team.

It was a team effort to coordinate the tournament for Castellano, as he gained support from the City of Costa Mesa, as well as team boosters and other fans of Estancia.

It all helped Estancia raise $1,700 from the tournament. Each team paid $75 to enter.

“We plan on making this a yearly event (the second week of June),” Castellano said in an email. “Hopefully it will continue to grow and get better.”

In addition to a snack bar in the main gym, the Estancia Basketball Community Shootout also conducted a three-point shooting contest to raise money, as contestants paid $5 to enter.

Twin brothers Jason and Tyler Payne finished in a tie to win and split the money prize, as both hit 15 out of 20 balls.

The tournament had a competitive and festive atmosphere, however there were no referees, which led to a few scuffles and several arguments. But that might still happen with officials.

Castellano might add referees next year.

“It was great for our first time running it,” Castellano said. “Everyone we talked to said they enjoyed themselves and are excited to play again next year. It was great to see so many people from our community participate in this great event and help support Estancia Basketball but none of this happens without the support of our parents, players, coaches, alumni, community members and administration believing in this event. It was an awesome time and it helped us raise some money for kids and the program.”