VANCOUVER used to be Rob Sacre's kingdom.
A giant high school basketball player with a personality to match, Sacre helped lead the Handsworth Royals to a provincial AAA title in his junior season.
After graduation Sacre took his many talents to Spokane, Wash., choosing the University of Gonzaga and their NCAA March Madnessdarling of a basketball team as his new kingdom. On Saturday he returned to Vancouver and one thing was clear - Sacre is still the king.
With more than 9,500 hoops fans looking on, Sacre, now a fifth-year senior, led the Bulldogs to a 73-54 preseason victory over the University of Hawaii in a game dubbed the B.C. Basketball Classic.
The seven-foot centre led his team in points with 16 and rebounds with 10, registering his third straight doubledouble to start his final college season. His massive block of a Hawaii player's jump shot midway through second half earned the biggest cheer of the night and as Sacre left the game with 48 seconds left the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
After the game it was really time for Sacre to shine. Long after the final whistle he was on the Rogers Arena floor signing autographs, taking pictures with fans and getting reacquainted some of his old Handsworth buddies.
"I love Vancouver," Sacre said with a big grin as fans called his name, demonstrating that Vancouver definitely loves him back. But what also became clear after the game is
that Gonzaga loves him too. A lot.
"He's got a heart of gold," said head coach Mark Few after the game. Few and the Gonzaga staff made the Vancouver game happen as a reward to Sacre for his years of work and, just as importantly it seems, play.
"I'm telling you, if you cut him open he would bleed Gonzaga blue," said Few.
Kevin Pangos, a freshman guard from Newmarket, Ont. who has already earned a starting role with the Bulldogs, raved about his new teammate and captain.
"I love Rob, he's a great guy," he said. "I love to be around him. He's really supportive as well and helps us freshmen get into the rhythm of the season."
When asked if Sacre was being treated like a rock star in Vancouver, Pangos laughed.
"Rob's always a big rock star," he said. "He's a big personality, he's a great guy, everybody on the team loves him and really values his presence."
Sacre said he tried not to get too caught up in squeezing every ounce out of his trip home, but the nerves did show early in the game. By the end, however, he was relishing every moment.
"I tried to keep it low-key as much as possible," he said. "I'm not trying to do too much, I'm just trying to treat it like another game but it's amazing to see all the crowd, all the people out here."
The Bulldogs are now ranked in the top 20 in the NCAA and this season they'll be fighting to win their 12th consecutive West Coast Conference regular season title while booking their annual ticket to the March Madness tournament. If the NBA returns in time for the 2012 draft, Sacre is currently projected as a second round pick. On the academic side he already has a degree from Gonzaga and is now pursuing a masters in sports management.
In the Gonzaga team photo all of the players are standing in a row, smiling the forced smiles of a posed athlete. In the middle, though, is Sacre with a huge grin on his face. He's not standing either. He's riding a giant statue of a bulldog.
Vancouver used to be Rob Sacre's kingdom. Now it's obvious he rules a new land.
