Twins anchor Super 64 champs

Tim Mullin

Wednesday, July 27, 2005 | 9:37 a.m.

It is comforting for a coach to have a strong, athletic 7-foot center dominating down in the paint, but what about having two?

"It just makes it fun," EBO/EA Sports coach Darren Matsubara said Tuesday after his team defeated Friends of Hoop Seattle 81-70 at Cox Pavilion.

He is the fortunate coach to have brothers Robin and Brook Lopez in his starting lineup.

Robin and Brook Lopez are twin 7-footers starting for EBO/EA Sports, which repeated as champions of the Adidas Super 64 tournament.

"Not only are they 7 feet, but they are athletic, they understand the game," Matsubara said. "But you know what, they are just very disciplined."

Maybe it is because they have been playing together since before they could walk, or maybe it's because they have two older brothers who both played high school basketball. Regardless of the reason, the brothers have a special connection on the court that only they can understand.

"We know what we are going to do, we complement each other," Robin Lopez said. "If he turns in one way and goes in for a shot, I will get it. So we know what each other like to do."

The two, who have being playing basketball since before they can remember, combined for 24 points, 23 rebounds and seven blocks in Tuesday's win.

The victory gave the EBO/EA Sports team the first ever Las Vegas Prep Basketball Showdown title.

The event, presented by Fox Sports' "Best Damn Sports Show Period," pitted the Adidas Super 64 Champion (EBO/EA Sports) against the Nike Main Event tournament champion (FOH Seattle) in front of a nationally televised audience.

After going up 3-0 on a Tre'vonn Willis 3-pointer seconds after the opening whistle, the EBO/EA Sports team never looked back.

The lesson learned was simply that size does matter.

The difference in the game was just pure size. As the "Twin Towers" dominated in the paint, the EBO/EA Sports guards overpowered their opposition.

The EBO/EA backcourt of Willis and Derrick Jasper, who stand 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-6, found easy paths to the hoop over the much smaller FOH Seattle guards.

When FOH Seattle's guards stepped back to protect the lane, Willis and Jasper simply moved behind the arc and knocked down 3-pointers.

"I think what (having bigger guards) does is when we execute, we can see over everything, it's amazing," Matsubara said. "I was talking to a couple of NBA scouts, and they said we are as big as NBA teams.

"Our point guard is 6-foot-6, our two is 6-foot-3, our three is 6-foot-8, and then we have two 7-footers, plus we have a 7-footer coming off the bench, too."

Willis finished with a team-high 27 points and five assists.

Brook Lopez scored 13 points but was handcuffed defensively because of fouls.

But Robin was overpowering in the paint, with a game-high 17 rebounds and seven blocks.

"Robin did a great job defending and blocking shots," Matsubara said. "He just changed the game, made guys change shots."

With his signature one-handed jump hook, FOH Seattle center Spencer Hawes ultimately scored a game-high 35 points for FOH Seattle, but felt the pressure of the "Twin Towers."

"That was the hardest 35 that I have ever gotten," said Hawes, who is considered one of the top five centers in the country. "Every time you get in, you have another one coming at you. You've got the twin towers in there, so you have to keep working. Do what you can. I just got luck and played well."

Early in the first half, Robin Lopez was standing at the top of the key and immediately found his brother cutting to the hoop. In one swift motion, Robin let it go and Brook slammed it home to extend EBO/EA Sport's lead to 18-8.

"It is really good because they help each other out, which makes it so tough to play against them," Matsurbara said.

Robin and Brook Lopez will graduate from San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno, Calif., in 2006 and have already committed to play for Stanford next fall.

"It is the best mix of academics and athletics anywhere," Robin Lopez said. "A degree from Stanford, you know, you can do anything."