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Gian Chiu Stars for Desert Christian Varsity in California
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Gian Chiu is known as the Gentle Giant. Although fierce in size at 6-foot-7, the 18-year old is kind at heart. The Desert Christian senior moved to the United States just two years ago, leaving his family in the Philippines to pursue both his love for basketball, as well as education.
Chiu is a true Student-Athlete. He maintains a 4.65 grade point average, and just helped several of his teammates earn an academic trip to Washington, DC. His parents raised him to put school first, basketball second. And although he's achieved success on the court as the Conquerors leading scorer, his dream is to help others by becoming a doctor.
Chiu was noticed on the basketball courts of his home country by a scout from the NBA's Golden State Warriors. That scout is friends with Desert Christian Assistant Basketball Coach Vern Vegso, and together they helped arrange for Chiu to come to Desert Christian. CIF transfer rules dictated Chiu sit play on the JV team his junior season, but he is making the most of his senior year as a Conqueror.
Recent Game
BERMUDA DUNES - In front of more than 500 fans, the Desert Christian High School boys basketball team stunned Victory League rival Desert Chapel with a thrilling fourth-quarter performance from 6-foot-7 senior Gian Chiu.
The first-year varsity player was giant down the stretch, scoring 14 points in the final quarter to lead the Conquerors to a 68-64 come-from-behind victory.
The victory keeps the Conquerors in the driver's seat toward their first Victory League title since the 2000-2001 season. Desert Christian is 16-3 overall, 8-1 in league play.
"In the second half, we were able to get the ball inside and Gian stepped up," Conquerors coach Don Curci said. "I think that he realized he was a non-factor in the first half and Desert Chapel did a great job on him.
"Both Matt Martinez (12 points,) and Gian (23 points, 12 rebounds) picked it up at the end. Matt was able to create a great passing lane, and Gian was there to put it in."
While the Conquerors erased a 35-30 halftime deficit, it took the entire squad to step up to stop the hot hand of Chapel's Chaz Pio.
The 5-10 senior guard shot from the outside with ease in the first half, rolling up 19 points. However, in the second half he was held to 10 thanks to strong defense from freshman guard Chris Dougherty.
"Every person had a hand in this one," Curci added. "Chris had a big job, and Nick (Law) and Kevin Martin really elevated their game. Matt really played big and never let them lose focus."
With Christian taking an early lead, 20-17 after the first quarter, an athletic Chapel (11-5, 6-2 league) squad went to work behind Pio, Chris Moore (11 points) and Dave Sims (six points, four steals).
Pio landed two of his five 3-pointers in the second quarter to help the Eagles cruise to a 35-27 cushion just before the buzzer. However, the Conquerors answered when Law (13 points, six rebounds) pumped in a 3 as the buzzer sounded to close it to 35-30.
Desert Chapel, which won the first meeting 69-58, continued to dominate in the third quarter, but that's when Desert Christian mounted a comeback.
Pio's off-balance 3-pointer at the end of the third made it 52-41, but the Conquerors went on a 10-4 run in the fourth to close the gap quickly.
"Chaz really didn't see the ball in the second half," said Chapel coach Don Parshall of his floor leader, who finished with a game-high 29 points, including 6 of 7 from the line and three steals. "But it all came down to execution on our part. We just didn't get the ball into the hands of the right guys at the right time.
"It's tough for us anytime to have to play against a kid (Chiu) that size. If we allowed him to get inside, he's going to score."
Parshall also added that in the closing minutes of the game, when Desert Christian tied it at 58-all with three minutes to go, it was a matter of which team wanted it more.
"I'm not sure we really wanted it as much as they did," he said. "They showed tremendous heart and we didn't get everybody into the offense. Everybody has a specific role, and when we've done those things we've been very successful. When we get out of that, it takes us out of our game and we don't play at the same caliber."
Desert Christian's comeback continued when Martin (13 points,eight rebounds) stole the ball and converted for the lead. Chiu's layup made it 62-60. The Conquerors used the clock, got another layup inside by Chiu with 15 seconds to go and two free throws from Martin to seal it.
"It was a great atmosphere," said Chiu after the game. "The crowd really got behind us. They were great."
tnx 2 pach of mypba.com
Video clip:
Article:
Gian Chiu is known as the Gentle Giant. Although fierce in size at 6-foot-7, the 18-year old is kind at heart. The Desert Christian senior moved to the United States just two years ago, leaving his family in the Philippines to pursue both his love for basketball, as well as education.
Chiu is a true Student-Athlete. He maintains a 4.65 grade point average, and just helped several of his teammates earn an academic trip to Washington, DC. His parents raised him to put school first, basketball second. And although he's achieved success on the court as the Conquerors leading scorer, his dream is to help others by becoming a doctor.
Chiu was noticed on the basketball courts of his home country by a scout from the NBA's Golden State Warriors. That scout is friends with Desert Christian Assistant Basketball Coach Vern Vegso, and together they helped arrange for Chiu to come to Desert Christian. CIF transfer rules dictated Chiu sit play on the JV team his junior season, but he is making the most of his senior year as a Conqueror.
Recent Game
BERMUDA DUNES - In front of more than 500 fans, the Desert Christian High School boys basketball team stunned Victory League rival Desert Chapel with a thrilling fourth-quarter performance from 6-foot-7 senior Gian Chiu.
The first-year varsity player was giant down the stretch, scoring 14 points in the final quarter to lead the Conquerors to a 68-64 come-from-behind victory.
The victory keeps the Conquerors in the driver's seat toward their first Victory League title since the 2000-2001 season. Desert Christian is 16-3 overall, 8-1 in league play.
"In the second half, we were able to get the ball inside and Gian stepped up," Conquerors coach Don Curci said. "I think that he realized he was a non-factor in the first half and Desert Chapel did a great job on him.
"Both Matt Martinez (12 points,) and Gian (23 points, 12 rebounds) picked it up at the end. Matt was able to create a great passing lane, and Gian was there to put it in."
While the Conquerors erased a 35-30 halftime deficit, it took the entire squad to step up to stop the hot hand of Chapel's Chaz Pio.
The 5-10 senior guard shot from the outside with ease in the first half, rolling up 19 points. However, in the second half he was held to 10 thanks to strong defense from freshman guard Chris Dougherty.
"Every person had a hand in this one," Curci added. "Chris had a big job, and Nick (Law) and Kevin Martin really elevated their game. Matt really played big and never let them lose focus."
With Christian taking an early lead, 20-17 after the first quarter, an athletic Chapel (11-5, 6-2 league) squad went to work behind Pio, Chris Moore (11 points) and Dave Sims (six points, four steals).
Pio landed two of his five 3-pointers in the second quarter to help the Eagles cruise to a 35-27 cushion just before the buzzer. However, the Conquerors answered when Law (13 points, six rebounds) pumped in a 3 as the buzzer sounded to close it to 35-30.
Desert Chapel, which won the first meeting 69-58, continued to dominate in the third quarter, but that's when Desert Christian mounted a comeback.
Pio's off-balance 3-pointer at the end of the third made it 52-41, but the Conquerors went on a 10-4 run in the fourth to close the gap quickly.
"Chaz really didn't see the ball in the second half," said Chapel coach Don Parshall of his floor leader, who finished with a game-high 29 points, including 6 of 7 from the line and three steals. "But it all came down to execution on our part. We just didn't get the ball into the hands of the right guys at the right time.
"It's tough for us anytime to have to play against a kid (Chiu) that size. If we allowed him to get inside, he's going to score."
Parshall also added that in the closing minutes of the game, when Desert Christian tied it at 58-all with three minutes to go, it was a matter of which team wanted it more.
"I'm not sure we really wanted it as much as they did," he said. "They showed tremendous heart and we didn't get everybody into the offense. Everybody has a specific role, and when we've done those things we've been very successful. When we get out of that, it takes us out of our game and we don't play at the same caliber."
Desert Christian's comeback continued when Martin (13 points,eight rebounds) stole the ball and converted for the lead. Chiu's layup made it 62-60. The Conquerors used the clock, got another layup inside by Chiu with 15 seconds to go and two free throws from Martin to seal it.
"It was a great atmosphere," said Chiu after the game. "The crowd really got behind us. They were great."
tnx 2 pach of mypba.com
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