Introducing the Tennessee Rajahz . . .

PCNAK’s U-19 Basketball Competition shows great promise in bringing out rising athletes from our community. If in doubt, just check out the 2007 Champions, the Tennessee Rajahz. With seven of the eleven players (the total including on-call and trainee players), the Rajahz led with a 12 point victory over the opposing Central Florida team---earning them the championship title.

Their PCNAK Roster includes:

Franklin Chacko-Point Guard
Freddy Chacko-Point Guard
Abin Philipose-Shooting Guard
Alan Anchanattu-Shooting Guard
Shawn Chacko-Small Forward
Justin Anchanattu-Power Forward
Sam Mammen-Center
Alvin Benjamin-Power Forward/Center

When asked as to what the Rajahz attribute their success, teammate Sam Mammen responded without a moment of hesitation, "our chemistry—both on and off the court." On his website, www.rajahz.com, Mammen gives greater insight to just how the team’s chemistry works for them. Having to play constantly against teams or players that are, in Mammen’s words, “faster, stronger, smarter, and more explosive players” the Rajahz have honed and sharpened “their almost natural ability” to anticipate each other’s moves. Using that advantage, they adapt to any court situation through an intense combination of teamwork and skill. Off the court, they maintain their connection by regularly playing as well as hanging out together socially.

Before they were the Rajahz, they were just seven "casual" players who dabbled in a bit of “driveway basketball, VBS basketball, and school PE class [basketball]” as Mammen puts it. Since all of them attended different churches, school was where they had first become aware of each other’s interest in basketball.

As lone players, they were often deemed too young to play in community tournaments where older Malu teams came to compete. Even when they formally became a team, opportunities to play in Malayalee tournaments were limited. But they didn’t lose heart. In 2005, the Rajahz got their first real chance to play as against Malu teams in the ISO tournament hosted by Subin Joseph. Then, followed the 2006 Dallas PCNAK where they were undefeated until the championship game against the Dallas Showstoppers—losing only by three points.

On winning and losing, one teammate commented, “You know, before every game we pray, and our prayer is just that God would let the best team win. If that’s us, then great. If not, then that’s cool too.”

The Rajahz spent the next year building up their skills. They enlisted the help of Fijoy Johnson, Toms Mathew, and Stanley Johnson—three individuals who spent hours shaping and polishing this young team. During the school year, they practiced once or twice a week. When summer came around, practice sessions increased to four or five times a week. Their hard work paid of course at the 2007 PCNAK—a victory that they hope to repeat this year.

Apart from basketball and school, these young men make it a point to be very involved in their churches. Many hold leadership roles as well as being a part of their church music ministry. Though they live and breathe basketball, they are truly all-rounded individuals.

If you want to know more about the Rajahz, visit their online site, www.rajahz.com.

For more info on all the U-19 teams, make sure to check them out at this year’s PCNAK!