CHICAGO -- We're going to a Game 5 final showdown contest.
For the second game in a row, the Chicago Gale came screaming out of the gate, grabbing a huge early lead and coasting to a win against their opponents from Philadelphia.
This time Chicago delivered the first 10 points on the way to a 81-60 victory that tied up this championship series at two games each, setting up a title match in Philadelphia.
The big hero for Chicago was power forward Stu Gatz, who returned from a 7-game injury and had the best game of his two-season career. Gatz led both teams in scoring and rebounding, and the Gale, once thought dead in the water after two straight losses to start the series, seems ebullient with hope.
It didn't seem to matter much that Chicago point guard Ginger Vampire, the previous game's MVP was totally ineffective and fouled out, because Gatz was there to spearhead this particular triumph.
The Gale's vaunted defense, best in the East in Season 38, was intact again with Gatz's return to the lineup, holding Philly to just 47.3 percent shooting.
And now we go to Game 5 for all the marbles.
20-PLUS GVP PERFORMANCES
--T.Kanes Masterson of Philadelphia again led the offensive charge for the Phobia, scoring a team-high 18 points. But with Chicago's Poppy Poppalucco continually hounding him, Masterson was forced to put up 18 shots, shooting just 39 percent for the contest, in order to get those points. He also pulled down 4 boards and had 1 assist.
--Bruce Hammer returned to scoring form for the Phobia in Game 4, getting 14 points, grabbing 4 boards, assisting 2 times , registering 1 steal and 1 blocked shot.
--Poppy Poppalucco of Chicago shadowed Masterson all game long while scoring 12 points of his own and tying for game-high honors in assists with 4. He also tied for most blocked shots with 2 and delivered 1 steal.
--Hall of Fame Chicago center Max Payne, looking to become the first MBA player in history to win four championship rings with four different teams, had another stellar game with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot, holding Diss Reflexia's offensive output down in the process.
--STU GATZ returned to the Chicago lineup with an MVP of the Game effort that included game-highs in both points (25) and rebounds (9), adding 2 blocks to that total. Gatz hit his first 11 shots before finishing 11 for 13 for the contest. (The playoff record is 12-for-12).
--Art Vandelay came through with his usual fine scoring output, netting 16 points, grabbing 6 boards and registering 1 assist.
PLAYOFF NOTES
The championship finale will be the first Game Five since Oklahoma City bested Chicago in Season 35 and just the third time the Title Series has gone the distance in the past 10 campaigns.
ASTOUNDING FACT
No team has ever lost the first two games in the finals and come back to win the Championship. Chicago could be the first.
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