Bakshi, Chung earn individual honors following playoff championship

BAKSHI CAPTURES PLAYOFF MVP HONORS

Hall of Fame guard Hrundi V. Bakshi of Houston earned his second Playoff MVP honor (the second in the past three seasons), as the trio of All-MBA performers from the championship team went 1-2-3 in the voting, with Ching-Chong Chung and Sanjay Patel finishing second and third, respectively.

Bakshi's award marked the fifth MVP honor he has captured in his illustrious career. The 6-7 franchise player has won three regular season MVP awards and two Playoff MVP awards.

And he finally earned a championship ring in this, his sixth MBA campaign.

Bakshi captured regular season MVP honors in his rookie season for Milwaukee, Season 29, repeated that honor with Milwaukee in Season 30, won Playoff MVP in Season 32 in a losing cause for Milwaukee, won regular season MVP for Houston this season, then captured the Playoff MVP in helping Houston to the title.

Bakshi became the 10th player to have won both MVP honors in the same season and the first to turn the impressive trick since Sagittal Occlusal did so for San Jose in Season 27. The complete list is as follows:

Season 3 -- Cappy Gambol in his first year with Milwaukee, leading them to their first title.
Season 6 -- Cappy Gambol, leading Milwaukee to their third title in four seasons.
Season 14-- Stu Nod of Philadelphia, leading the Phobia to their fourth title and first in six seasons.
Season 19 -- Curly Hogbottom of Philadelphia, leading his team to their sixth title -- first non-guard to turn trick.
Season 21 -- Tersio Tataruga of Dallas' second straight title team in a freaky season where he averaged more than 6.2 points more per game than he did in any other season in his career. The lone double MVP winner on this list not in the Hall of Fame. A forward.
Season 22 -- Curly Hogbottom of Philadelphia, led Philly to seventh title.
Season 23 -- Joey Two-Tones of Dallas, sparkling, speedy guard, first double winner to not play on a title team.
Season 25 -- Sagittal Occlusal of San Jose, first and only rookie to turn the trick, leading team to only title.
Season 27 -- Sagittal Occlusal of San Jose, third player to win two double MVPs, second to finish with runner-up team.
Season 30 -- Hrundi V. Bakshi of Houston.

Bakshi's MVP award, the fifth overall of his career, ties him with Curly Hogbottom and Sagittal Occlusal for second place in all-time MVP awards won. First place, all alone, is the great Cappy Gambol with six.

In his six MBA seasons, Bakshi has now accumulated 17 individual honors, placing him tied for seventh place with Link Lennex and Stu Nod as the most honored player in league history. That list, which determines how a player's card is displayed in the Hall of Fame, is as follows

1. Curly Hogbottom -- 25 awards
2. Uncle Bob Masterson -- 21 awards
3. Sagittal Occlusal --19 awards
3. Cappy Gambol -- 19 awards
5. Boone Doggle -- 18 awards
5. Mamadou Zongo -- 18 awards
7. Link Lennex --17 awards
7. Stu Nod -- 17 awards
7. Hrundi V. Bakshi -- 17 awards
10.Diamond Dallas Paige -- 16 awards
10.Jonny Cockaroo -- 16 awards

CHUNG EARNS HALL OF FAME RECOGNITION WITH A FLOURISH

Ching-Chong Chung of the Houston Iguanas became the 36th member of the MBA Hall of Fame with the championship ring placed on his index card following Season 34. Chung was a driving force behind Houston capturing its first MBA title in 22 seasons, putting together his second All-MBA season and leading everyone in playoff scoring with his relentless 19.8 points per game performances.

Chung, who just completed his 9th MBA season, ties Silo Chamberlain as the smallest members of the hallowed Hall, both players being 5-10.

Along with his two All-MBA seasons and the championship ring, Chung has appeared in 7 All Star Games, which ties him for the 6th highest total appearances in the star contest. His five starts in All Star Games is tied for 9th most ever.

He has been his team's high scorer in six of the nine seasons he has been in the league, with a single-season high of 20.2 for Houston in Season 31. Additionally, he has led his teams in assists three times, steals six times, and free throw shooting three times. Despite his diminutive size, Chung has been in double figures in shots blocked six of his nine seasons.

He is the 16th guard elected to the Hall and is currently tied with Doug Fresh for 13th best guard career in history, ranking ahead of fellow Hall of Famers Chamberlain and Oscar Mudcat. He is tied for 26th place in all-time best careers with Alex Pal and Fresh. And there is no reason to believe he will not improve upon all of his totals, beginning next season.

As can be attested by the back of his card, Chung has been a model of consistent excellence throughout his career with first Milwaukee and then Houston.

HOUSTON COMPLETES RARE POST-SEASON SWEEP

Houston 69, Oklahoma City 65

HOUSTON -- The Houston Iguanas, built an early 20-9 lead, then held off the Oklahoma City Lariats to become the first MBA team in 19 seasons to go unbeaten in the post-season. The victory, performed in front of a delightedly clammy full house at The Terrarium clinched the first Iguanas title since Season 12 and the fourth championship for the proud franchise.

Oklahoma City, led by small forward Taylor Quackstick and his game-high 19 points, came within 2 points of the eventual winners at 67-65 in the fourth quarter, but could not overcome the balanced scoring of the Iguanas.

MVP of the Game for the second straight contest was Hall of Famer Hrundi V. Bakshi, who led his team with 18 points and 7 rebounds, while dishing 4 assists and blocking 2 shots. Stone Flinthorn, the powerful strong forward for Houston, came up with the second triple-double of his career with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists.

Every single Houston starter was in double figures and contributed at least one blocked shot to the victory.

This was the first time since Philadelphia turned the trick in Season 15 that any club has gone a perfect 5-0 in the playoffs. Prior to Season 16, that kind of perfection was nearly a given, as seven teams in the first 15 seasons went 5-0 in the playoffs. The win also ties the S-15 Philadelphia bunch for the best single-season record in history at 14-1.

The Season 34 Title also assures 8-year veteran Ching-Chong Chung a berth in the hallowed MBA Hall of Fame. He will replace the retiring Cheetos Jones of Philadelphia and join teammate Hrundi V. Bakshi as one of two active Hall of Famers next season, Season 35.

Houston on verge of fourth championship

Houston 72, Oklahoma City 53

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Following their total 72-53 dominance in Game 2 of this Season 34 Finals, the Houston Iguanas stand ready to tie for the best overall record in any one season. Should they fulfill the series and playoff sweep with a victory in The Terrarium, they will not only get their fourth title, and first since Season 12, but tie the record of the Philadelphia Phobia as best ever for one season. That Philly team, like this Houston team, was 9-1 in the regular season and swept through the playoffs with a 5-0 mark.

The Phobia champs of Season 15 completed a two-year reign atop the MBA and were led by a trio of Hall of Famers: Stu Nod, veteran center Rip Slamjam and rookie forward Cam Bodia, who would go on to earn a record six championship rings. Joining Nod on the All-MBA team that season was defensive specialist Mayor Quimby at forward and at the other starting guard, Phil Davia's Cicero barber Guytano Logiuduce.

In this second finals game, Houston was led by its trio of All-MBA players, Hall of Famer Hrundi V. Bakshi, soon-to-be-annointed Hall of Famer Ching-Chong Chung and center Sanjay Patel. Bakshi was the Game MVP with 16 points 6 rebounds, 4 blocked shots, an assist and a steal. Chung was the game's high scorer with 20 points and Patel chipped in 14 points and 6 boards, blocking 1 shot.

The Lariats will be getting back 17-season veteran center Achilles Heel for the next contest, but it may already be too late. Heel will be replacing the high scorer in this last game for Oklahoma City, Kevin Mickle, who had 14 points.

The Terrarium will be steaming in sweaty anticipation of the team's first championship in 22 campaigns.

Houston comes from behind to take Game 1

Houston 74, Oklahoma City 71

HOUSTON -- The Game is four quarters long. It's unclear as to how 4 by 6 index cards that call the Houston Iguanas envelope their home know this. But they sure seem to.

The Oklahoma City Lariats led after every one of the first three quarters in this Season 34 Championship Finals opener, only to see the Iguanas put on the defensive clamps down the homestretch and thwart the potential theft of Game 1.

The final was 74-71, but the tale of the tape is in the last quarter where Houston held the visitors from the West to just 11 points after allowing them 22 to start the game and 23 in the second quarter.

You could feel it coming in the third quarter, where the Eastern Division champions and heavy favorites outscored their opponents 21-15 to pull within four points.

Somewhat uncharacteristically, the Iguanas mounted their comeback with precision passing (15 assists) that led to high percentage shots (68.1 percent team shooting) while taking just 47 attempts overall.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma City was yakking up 62 shots and hitting 48.0, which was nearly as effective, but not quite.

Looking at the lineups, the teams are fairly evenly matched except in the point guard position, and that slight edge to Houston was, in fact, the difference in this one. Walt White of Oklahoma City and Hrundi V. Bakshi of Houston can both score, but Bakshi plays some defense, while White plays almost none. Bakshi's trio of blocked shots on White were all on good shots from his opponent, two from 3-point land, and that was more than the difference in the final score.

MVP of the Game was Lemon Jell-o, the two guard for the Lariats who led all scorers with 20 points and played strong defense against Ching-Chong Chung (while switching over more than once to thwart Bakshi).

Houston had great balance, with four starters getting between 12 and 18 points. The one who did not make it into double figures, Stone Flinthorn, was the game's top rebounder with 7 and limited his man to just 8 points while dishing out four assists.

This series could have become very interesting had Oklahoma City been able to steal the opener. Now they go home with a must-win situation in this best of five set.

Series Note: Should Houston win the title, Ching-Chong Chung would get his 10th award and be admitted to the MBA Hall of Fame.