Season 58...Leaders and Awards

 

Season 58 Featured Game No. 10...Los Angeles at Sacramento

SACRAMENTO 79, LOS ANGELES 76

R-DOGS BEST BIG ONE

SACRAMENTO -- This time it was Sacramento (now 7-3) by 3 points, 79-76, with the River Dogs hanging on for payback for an earlier 82-79 loss to these same Los Angeles Big One (now 8-2).

In an excruciating fourth quarter in which they watched their 10-point lead get all the way down to 1, the R-Dogs could manage just 9 points as L.A. closed the gap with a series of blocked shots by Phillip Mianus. But, nursing a 1-point lead, Sacramento point guard Rabbit Munchers hit a welcome trey with 8 ticks left to provide some breathing room. But the lead was back to 1 in an instant as Los Angeles pivot Otzi Bolzano immediately scored, was fouled and hit his free throw. 

The winning bucket came at the 5 time unit mark when POG Satan Israel of Sacramento took control at the top of the key, drove to the cup and slammed home what turned out to be the game-winner. 

So now we have four threats to win the title this season, with a quartet of playoff teams who have all won at least 7 games.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

36 GVP...Retiring power forward SATAN ISRAEL of Sacramento was the difference in this game, scoring a game-high 32 points despite missing essentially all of the third quarter with a recurring injury. The 6-8 Israel, in his eighth and final campaign, was due for a big scoring outing. With guards Rabbit Munchers and Bellybutton Inquisition carrying a majority of the scoring load all season, Israel's offensive numbers were the lowest of his career. He picked an excellent time to rectify that situation, hitting his first 10 shots of the game as he notched 12 points in the first quarter, followed by 15 more in the second. His final total of 32 came on 13 of 16 shooting, including 3 slam dunks and 6 for 7 from the foul line. He is now averaging 14.5 points per game. He dominated his man, Grand Demur Fuyacho, who was returning to the Big One lineup from injury for the first time in four games. If The R-Dogs are going to do anything in the post season, they'll need Israel to be a productive part of their offense...and to stay healthy.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

25 GVP...Sacramento point guard Rabbit Munchers...18 points (4 treys)...4 rebounds...2 assists...1 steal.

25 GVP...Los Angeles Hall of Fame point guard Vicious Hick...16 points (3 treys)...6 assists...3 rebounds.

24 GVP...Los Angeles center Otzi "the Frozen Hunter" Bolzano...17 points...7 rebounds.

23 GVP...Los Angeles shooting guard Pinky Toe...18 points...3 rebounds...2 assists.

A LOOK AT THE TIGHT MVP RACE

This is one of the closest MVP races in recent memory, with three, maybe four players squarely in the hunt.

Prior to this Featured Game, the race looks as follows:

1. guard Pinky Toe of Los Angeles…32.3 GVP points

1. forward Leonard Pinth Garnel of Philadelphia… 32.3 GVP points

3. Hall of Fame guard Juzan Djinn of Dallas… 31.4 GVP points

4. center Poop-Rupiah 3000 of Dallas…30.4 GVP points

MBA Standings … Season 58

EAST DIVISION

PHILADELPHIA………8-1 (clinched playoffs)

DALLAS………………7-2

OKLAHOMA CITY…..4-5

CHARLESTON……….3-6 (eliminated)

MILWAUKEE………..1-8 (eliminated)

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….8-2 (clinched playoffs and first place in division)

SACRAMENTO… 7-3 (clinched playoffs)

GILLETTE…………4-6 (eliminated)

SEATTLE………….3-6 (eliminated)

SAN JOSE…………2-8 (eliminated)

NEXT UP:  Philadelphia at Oklahoma City. The Phobia could clinch both first place in the East and home court advantage for the entire playoffs with a road win against the Lariats. Philly, on a 3-game winning streak, handled Oklahoma City fairly easily 76-63 in their first meeting, with Phobia center Blob Dylan domineering during the proceedings.

 

Season 58, Featured Game No. 9...Oklahoma City at Dallas

DALLAS 90, OKLAHOMA CITY 65 (Slaughter Rule Enforced)

DEMONS DESTROY LARIATS

DALLAS -- With this 90-65 manhandling by Dallas of Oklahoma City, the playoff teams are set for Season 58. All that remains is determining first place in the East in a race between current leader Philadelphia and the six-time-defending-champion Demons and who gets home court advantage throughout the post-season.

This Featured Game was competitive up until halftime. In the third quarter, Dallas outscored the visitors 20-7 and it was all over. 

The Demons, who possess the longest current winning streak at 5, crushed Oklahoma City defensively, preventing 19 would-be points.

The victors shot 71.2 percent from the floor to just 50.9 percent for the Lariats.

Points prevented...Dallas 19, Oklahoma City 3

Turnovers caused: Oklahoma City 4, Dallas 3

Tops in points prevented: Juzan Djinn of Dallas with 13, Poop-Rupiah 3000 of Dallas with 4

Tops in turnovers caused: Oblio Assbag of Oklahoma City with 2

PLAYER OF THE GAME

27 GVP...Role-playing power forward NICK KENPOOP of Dallas stepped up and claimed POG honors for the first time this season with a game-high 20-point performance. The 6-10, fourth-year man dominated Oklahoma City's L.S. Island, scoring on 8 of 9 shots, slamming home 3 dunks and going 4 of 6 from the foul line. The sharp passing big man tied for game-high in assists with 4 while pulling down 3 boards. A steady, if not spectacular piece in the last two Dallas championships, Kenpoop is now scoring at a modest-but-steady 12 points per game, which is tied for his best scoring season.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

23 GVP...Dallas small forward Venial Sinn...19 points...3 assists...1 rebound.

23 GVP...Oklahoma City small forward Rumpy Pumpy Lewis...17 points...3 rebounds...3 assists.

20 GVP...Dallas Hall of Fame two guard Juzan Djinn...11 points...4 rebounds...3 blocked shots...2 assists...game-high 13 points prevented.

MBA Standings … Season 58

EAST DIVISION

PHILADELPHIA………7-1 (clinched playoffs)

DALLAS………………7-2 (clinched playoffs)

OKLAHOMA CITY…..4-5

CHARLESTON……….3-6 (eliminated)

MILWAUKEE………..1-7 (eliminated)

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….7-1 (clinched playoffs and first place in division)

SACRAMENTO… 6-3 (clinched playoffs)

GILLETTE…………4-5 (eliminated)

SEATTLE………….3-6 (eliminated)

SAN JOSE…………1-8 (eliminated)

NEXT UP:  Bracket 9 concludes with first-place Philly at last-place Milwaukee. The Phobia is still jostling for first in the East with Dallas as well as home court throughout the playoffs. They held Milwaukee to 53 measly points in their first meeting, winning by 15 behind Itstha Bishop and Leonard Pinth Garnel’s duo POG performances.

 

Season 58 Featured Game No. 8...Sacramento at Los Angeles

 

LOS ANGELES 82, SACRAMENTO 79

L.A. comes back in barn-burner

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Big One (now 7-1), trailing by 9 points with 54 time units left in the game, rallied to come all the way back for an electrifying 82-79 victory over second-place Sacramento (now 5-3). 

The victory clinches a playoff spot for L.A.; its second in a row. They join Philadelphia as guaranteed post-season teams.

The Big One used a trio of 3-pointers by Vicious Hick in the fourth quarter and took the lead for good on a short jumper by center Otzi Bolzano with 3 time units remaining. 

The victory gives L.A. its first 7-win season in eight campaigns; the most since Season 50 when they went 9-1 in a championship year.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

35 GVP..."MIGHTY MITE" BELLYBUTTON INQUISITION was the star of the show for the Sacramento River Dogs in this tough loss. The 5-11, 6th-year veteran scored a game-high 27 points in a head-to-head shootout with league scoring leader Pinky Toe of L.A. Inquisition got off to a great start, scoring 11 points in the first quarter on the way to a 12 for 20 shooting day, with 1 slam dunk. He was also 3 for 3 from the foul line and tied for game-high in assists with 4 and team-high in rebounds with 4. A three-time all star, this hard-driving back court player has become sharper with the passage of time. He's scoring at a career-best 17.6 points per game and has sparked the revitalized Sacramento franchise after coming to them in the free agent draft. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

26 GVP...Retiring Los Angeles forward Phillip Mianus...15 points...5 rebounds...4 blocked shots...1 assist...1 steal.

25 GVP...Hall of Fame Los Angeles point guard Vicious Hick...17 points (4 treys)...6 rebounds...2 assists.

20 GVP...Los Angeles center Otzi "the Frozen Hunter" Bolzano...13 points...5 rebounds...1 blocked shot...1 assist

25 GVP...Los Angeles shooting guard Pinky Toe...21 points...3 assists...1 rebound.

MBA Standings … Season 58

EAST DIVISION

PHILADELPHIA………7-1 (clinched playoffs)

DALLAS…………………6-2

OKLAHOMA CITY…..4-4

CHARLESTON……….3-5 (eliminated)

MILWAUKEE………..1-7 (eliminated)

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….7-1 (clinched playoffs)

SACRAMENTO… 5-3

SEATTLE………….3-4

GILLETTE…………2-5

SAN JOSE…………1-7 (eliminated)

NEXT UP: Bracket 8 concludes with Seattle hosting Gillette. A win would put the home team Stampede just one game behind Sacramento for the second playoff berth. But there is no guarantee. The Humps bested Seattle in Bracket 6 with a 75-68 setback behind the hot shooting of Maboroshi No Hotcake. 

 

Season 58 Featured Game No. 7...Philadelphia at Los Angeles

PHILADELPHIA 70, LOS ANGELES 66

DEFENSE PREVAILS 

IN SHOWDOWN

LOS ANGELES -- Led by the efforts of Tut Ankhamun, Blob Dylan and Leonard Pinth Garnel, the league-leading defense of the Philadelphia Phobia (now 6-1) held the MBA's top offense 19 points below their average as they triumphed 70-66 in this cross-over showdown of first place teams.

The loss was the first blemish on The Big One's record (now 6-1) and improved the East vs. West record to 5-2 this campaign.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

25 GVP...Los Angeles shooting guard PINKY TOE led all scorers in this losing effort, with a 20-point performance in which the fifth-year man was 9 for 16 (2 of 5 from deep, 0 of 1 from foul line). He added 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. Toe, who is shooting for his second All-MBA foil star, is second in the league in scoring with a 22-points per game average. He's leading the L.A. squad in scoring for the fifth straight season. This was his fourth POG, tying him for the lead league.

25 GVP...The league's best defensive center, BLOB DYLAN of Los Angeles, scored a team-high 19 points in this huge win, giving him a career-best 15.3 ppg scoring average this season. The 6-11 sixth-year man was 9 for 11 from the floor (1 for 1 from the foul line) with a team-high 5 rebounds and the team's only blocked shot. It was the first POG of the season for Dylan.

25 GVP...6-10 small forward LEONARD PINTH GARNEL is having a banner year in this, his fifth campaign. He's leading the league in rebounding, is third in assists and is averaging a career-best 13.4 ppg. In this win he was 7 for 10 from the floor (1 for 3 from deep), handing out a game-high 7 assists and pulling down 3 rebounds. He's on track for his first All-MBA star and is currently tied with Toe for most POGs in the league with 4. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

23 GVP...Retiring Los Angeles forward Phillip Mianus...9 points...8 rebounds...3 blocks...2 assists...1 steal.

22 GVP...Retiring Philadelphia shooting guard Itstha Bishop...16 points...3 assists...2 rebounds...1 steal

MBA Standings … Season 58

EAST DIVISION

PHILADELPHIA………6-1

DALLAS………………4-2

OKLAHOMA CITY…..3-3

CHARLESTON……….3-3

MILWAUKEE………..1-5

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….6-1

SACRAMENTO… 5-2

SEATTLE………….3-4

GILLETTE…………2-5

SAN JOSE…………0-7 (eliminated)

NEXT UP: Last-place Milwaukee at Dallas. A loss by the Greyhounds would eliminate them from playoff contention, joining San Jose in that category. The defending champion Demons bested a surprisingly game Milwaukee club in their first meeting 83-77 behind the POG heroics of center Poop-Rupiah 3000. 

Season 58 Featured Game 6...Philadelphia at Dallas...plus a look at scoring and rebounding leaders

DALLAS 79, PHILADELPHIA 69

DEMONS WIN WITH SURGE IN FOURTH

DALLAS -- The Dallas Demons (now 4-2) dealt the visiting, first-place Philadelphia Phobia (now 5-1) their first defeat of Season 58, using a strong fourth quarter to turn a closely fought contest into a 79-69 victory. The win split the season series between the two East Division front runners and brought the six-time defending champion Demons to within a game of the Phobia.

The loss by Philly makes Los Angeles the only unbeaten team in the MBA right now. 

While Philadelphia, the top defensive team in the MBA, played hard-nosed defense, preventing 19 points by Dallas, free throws proved to be the main difference in the game. Dallas shot 13 more charity tosses than did the Phobia, going 14 of 15 at the line.

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS

Philadelphia...9...4...0...6  Total=19

Dallas.............2...2...0...2...Total=6

Top Players points prevented

1. Blob Dylan, Philadelphia 8

2. Leonard Pinth Garnel, Philadelphia 6

3. Venial Sinn, Dallas 4

TURNOVERS CAUSED BY QUARTERS

Philadelphia...2...1...2...0  Total=5

Dallas.............3...0...0...3  Total=6

Top Players turnovers caused

1. Mini Carfartt, Dallas 3

2. Nick Kenpoop, Dallas 2

PLAYER OF THE GAME

39 GVP...The smallest starter in the league at 5-10, Dallas point guard MINI CARFARTT, grabbed his first POG of the season, scoring from all four zones on the court to produce a game-high 33 points. The effort was in direct contrast to the first meeting with Philly, when Carfartt scored just 4 points and fouled out in a 1-point loss. The little guy was 12 for 17 from the floor, a perfect 2 for 2 from deep and 7 for 7 from the free throw line. He also tied for the team lead with 3 assists while pulling down 2 rebounds and registering 1 steal. Defensively, he was the top player in the game at causing turnovers, with 3. The fourth-year player is now averaging 14.3 points per game.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

27 GVP...Retiring Philadelphia shooting guard Itstha Bishop...23 points (4 treys)...4 rebounds.

25 GVP...Dallas center Poop-Rupiah 3000...15 poionts (5 slams)...8 rebounds...1 block...1 assist.

21 GVP...Dallas Hall of Fame two guard Juzan Djinn...16 points...2 rebounds...2 assists...1 steal.

21 GVP...Philadelphia point guard Tut Ankhamun...13 points...6 assists...1 steal...1 rebound.

20 GVP...Dallas power forward Nick Kenpoop...7 points...8 rebounds...2 assists...2 steals...1 block.

20 GVP...Philadelphia power forward Philibuck Davia...18 points (7 slams)...2 rebounds.

MBA Standings … Season 58

EAST DIVISION

PHILADELPHIA………5-1

DALLAS………………4-2

OKLAHOMA CITY…..3-3

CHARLESTON……….2-3

MILWAUKEE………..1-4

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….6-0

SACRAMENTO… 4-2

GILLETTE………2-4

SEATTLE………2-4

SAN JOSE………0-6

NEXT UP: The final game of bracket 6 has Charleston looking for revenge against Milwaukee on the Greyhounds’ home court. Milwaukee edged the Mountaineers in their first meeting 76-74 for their only win thus far. Charleston can get back to .500 with a victory, but a loss would drop them behind Milwaukee in the standings.

SEASON 58 MBA SCORING LEADERS

23.8 ppg...Famichiki Whiskey, Milwaukee

22.3 ppg...Pinky Toe, Los Angeles

21.5 ppg...Juzan Djinn, Dallas (Hall of Fame)

19.5 ppg...Bonifazio Spegatini, Oklahoma City (rookie)

19.3 ppg...Rabbit Munchers, Sacramento

SEASON 58 MBA REBOUNDING LEADERS

6.7 per game...Leonard Pinth Garnel, Philadelphia

5.4 per game...Scobee Bryant, Milwaukee

5.3 per game...Brother Jasper, Gillette

5.3 per game...Blob Dylan, Philadelphia

5.3 per game...Satan Israel, Sacramento (retiring)

Season 58 All Star Game in Sacramento

WEST 82, EAST 81 (Buzzer Beater)

WEST TAKES A THRILLER

SACRAMENTO -- Power forward Grand Demur Fuyacho's free throw after the final buzzer gave the West a one-point, 82-81 victory in one of the more riveting All Star Games in MBA history.

With the West trailing by two points and one time unit left, Fuyacho got the ball down low, scored, tying the game, and was fouled by Leonard Pinth Garnel. The 6-10 third-year man from Los Angeles then calmly sank the accompanying free throw for the victory, which was the second in a row for the West.

The East still leads the series 36 to 22, but in games played in Sacramento, the West is now 5-1.

Trailing 62-54 entering the fourth quarter, the West slowly worked its way back to within 4 points when guard Pinky Toe of Los Angeles drove to the hole, scored and was fouled with 4 ticks left. His subsequent free throw was no good, but it was Toe who came flying in from the free throw line and tipped in his own miss to tie the score with 3 left.

Then in the waning moments, Garnel's lob to Poop-Rupiah 3000 of Dallas resulted in a slam and a two-point lead for the East with just one time unit remaining, leading to the Fuyacho heroics.

It was the closest All Star Game finish since Season 30 when Oklahoma City rookie guard Jerry Curl hit a medium jumper at the horn to give the West a 75-74 triumph.

Yes...Oklahoma City was in the West at that point.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

33 GVP...Fifth-year veteran Los Angeles guard PINKY TOE can now add All Star Game MVP to his Rookie of the Year, All-MBA and 5 All Star appearances in as many seasons. The 6-2 Toe led the fourth-quarter charge for the winning West, including the dramatic 4-point play that tied it up near game's end. He scored a game-high 28 points on 13 of 21 shooting that included 2 for 6 from deep and 0 for 1 from the foul line. (The reluctant Toe would not reveal if he missed that free throw on purpose as part of his game-tying play). He added 4 rebounds and 1 assist.

OTHER 20-PLUS GVP PERFORMERS

31 GVP...Dallas center Poop-Rupiah 3000...25 points (6 slams)...3 rebounds...2 blocks...1 steal.

25 GVP...Gillette center Brother Jasper...21 points (4 slams)...4 rebounds.

24 GVP...Oklahoma City rookie guard Bonafazio Spegatini...19 points...3 rebounds...2 assists.