Mesa said like in the past several years, he will play again with the Guam Masters basketball team that is why he continues his “safety workout”.
He is also currently putting a lot of “quality training because aside from being a competitor he will also coach some of Guam’s participating teams. Mesa said he will also serve as referee in some of the basketball games in different divisions.
Considered by many as “the largest ever World Masters Games,” the Sydney 2009 that will run from October 10 to 18 will be attended by more than 28,000 people, as the organizers have been getting fantastic response from international and domestic competitors.
Mesa said the World Masters Games which he describes as the “largest sports event in the planet,” usually gathers ex-NBA cagers and former Olympic athletes.
Mesa who is leaving on Oct. 12 said he has been participating in the said event for the past 20 years.
In the basketball division he plays, the defending champion is Chicago which defeated Russia during the 6th World Masters Games last year.
Aside from basketball, among the 28 sports in the World Masters Games include athletics, football, softball, swimming and rowing.
Registered athletes include 101 year-old Griffith athlete Reginald Trewin, the Games oldest athlete.
As he prepares for the basketball game there, Mesa said he is trying to improve his outside shooting which he believes has to be mastered at least by 85 percent.
He pointed out that participants will be competing with former NBA and European gold medalists whose heights range from 6’6” to 6’11”.
Considering that the heights of Guam Masters team members range only from 5’8” to 5’11”, outside shooting could be the only way to grab a victory in the World Masters events.
Speed and power are also important, Mesa said.
“It’s an insult to drive to the basket with lesser power than the defenders,” he said.
