Coach Manny Panduro speaks to a Latino team from Wilmington playing in the Moonlight league basketball tournament at Nickerson Gardens in Watts. The players had to prove themselves if they wanted to win respect from opposing players and spectators most of whom were African American. (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)
The Wilmington team’s Joey Saavedra is a basketball phenom who could shoot the lights out from anywhere on the court. Back in 2002, he was a scoring machine at Banning High School, one of the highest-scoring point guards in the city, averaging nearly 32 a game. (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)
Family and friends watch the Wilmington team during the two-month Moonlight league tournament at Nickerson Gardens. (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)
Freddy Lopez of the Wilmington team goes up for a loose ball against Bo Paterson. (Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times)
