CHICAGO HANGS ON FOR FIRST PLAYOFF WIN IN 18 SEASONS
CHICAGO -- The Chicago Gale, led by guard Beezow Doo-Doo Zopitty Bop Bop-Bop (game-high 24 points) and center Wayan Garuda's 23-point effort, took a 14-point lead into the fourth quarter and held on for an eight-point, 76-68 win over the visiting San Jose Fighting Amigos.
It was Chicago's first playoff triumph since Season 17.
Both teams received sub-par performances from their All-MBA stars, as neither Hall of Fame forward Gato Do Mato (7 points) of San Jose nor Chicago's league MVP Didger A'doo (6 points, fouled out) could crack double digits in scoring.
But second-year guard Bop-Bop of Chicago took up the slack at the outset for the home team, blistering the nets for 13 points in the first quarter on 6 of 6 shooting that included a trey, as Chicago and San Jose put on a show for the packed house early on, with the Gale leading 28-21 after one.
Garuda took over the scoring for the Gale in the second half, where he netted a majority of his 23 points and accumulated a game-high 7 rebounds to win Game MVP honors.
The Amigos scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to pull within eight but could never get closer than six.
MBA PLAYOFF NOTES: Three of the four teams in this season's playoffs are holdovers from last year, with San Jose replacing Sacramento in the quartet.
The first-round match-up of Oklahoma City and Houston is a rematch of last season's finals in which the Iguanas swept the Lariats three straight.
Next Up: Oklahoma City can make a return trip to the finals with a win as they visit defending champion Houston in the hot and sweaty Terrarium.
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