PHILLY ON VERGE OF TITLE 16 AFTER GAME 2 TRIUMPH
CHICAGO -- A 7-0 Philadelphia Phobia run to start the final quarter, ending with yet another timely trey by small forward Bruce Hammer, broke open a close game and provided the momentum for another 11-point win for Philly.
The final score was 79-68, and coming on the heels of their 76-65 Game 1 win, puts the Phobia snugly in the driver's seat, needing just one win in the next three games to be crowned Season 38 champs.
Chicago needed a monster game from forward Art Vandelay, and he delivered big time with a game-high 27 points. But his counterpart at small forward, Hammer, was nearly as good, leading the Phobia with 24 on a variety of shots from all over the court.
Even with star shooting guard T.Kanes Masterson having an off day, courtesy of Poppy Poppalucco's tough defense, and Poppalucco delivering solid scoring numbers himself, the Gale could not muster enough scoring at crunch time.
Philadelphia could win it all next game as they return to their home court.
20-PLUS GVP PERFORMANCES
-- Chicago's small forward ART VANDELAY became the first Gale player this post-season to win an MVP of the Game performance with a game-high 27 points that included a game-high tying 10 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal. But he could not stop Bruce Hammer from nearly matching his output.
-- Chicago two guard Poppy Poppalucco was outstanding defensively against T.Kanes Masterson, thwarting sure baskets time and again. Plus, Poppy scored 18 points, including a pair of treys, had a game-high 2 blocked shots and delivered 2 assists.
-- Small forward Bruce Hammer of Philadelphia has come up huge all season long and continues to do so in the playoffs. His team-high 24 points were highlighted by a game-high 3 steals and a game-high (tied) 10 rebounds.
PLAYOFF FACTOID: Neither one of the two teams in the MBA finals have a Season 38 All-MBA player in their lineup. And despite the fact that the East has both teams in the finals and bested the West in regular season wins, all of the All-MBA players this season came from the West.
THE LAST 8 ALL-MBA TEAMS
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