MOUNTAINEERS SAY ADIOS, AMIGOS, MOVE INTO FINALS
CHARLESTON -- The division-winning San Jose team played host Charleston tough in the first quarter, then spent the rest of this laugher choking on their dust.
The win ends the first-round sweep for the Mountaineers, who now await the winner of the next playoff game between Dallas and Milwaukee.
Charleston will be appearing in its seventh MBA Finals and first since winning the whole enchilada three seasons back. In the six previous Finals, the franchise has come away champions three times.
Four players remain from that Season 36 title team: Jesus Moron Joseph, Beezow Bop-Bop, B. Quiet and Buck Naked. Bop-Bop was the Playoff MVP that season, and appears to be a strong challenger for the honor again this season, based on his first two playoff games since coming back from injury...both triple-double efforts.
The MBA waved a fond farewell to Funsy VanSlochum, who appeared momentarily in this contest and will be retiring after a 16-season career that saw him finish seventh in all-time scoring in the annals of the league.
As for San Jose, they added two excellent rookies in the past two seasons in Pippi Pippistrelli and Dayshotta Leo, returning to prominence in the West. A couple more stalwarts are obviously needed to compete for the brass ring.
PLAYER OF GAME
After being held to 11 points in Game 1, All-MBA forward B. QUIET of Charleston broke loose for a game-high 28 points. That mark is the highest scoring game in the playoffs thus far this season. The league's second-leading scorer also pulled down 5 boards, had 1 assist and 1 blocked shot.
OTHER 20-GVP PERFORMANCES
-- Having Beezow Bop-Bop back in the lineup is a major lift for the Mountaineers. The 6-1 guard ripped off his second consecutive triple-double in the playoffs in as many games, getting 16 points and registering game-highs in both rebounds (6) and assists (5). He also added 1 steal and 3 more blocked shots.
-- San Jose rookie guard Dayshotta Leo led his team in scoring with 17 points while pulling down 3 boards.
NEXT UP: The win-or-go-home match with Dallas at Milwaukee. The victor moves onto the Finals to face Charleston. The winner will have home team advantage in the playoffs.
MBA CHAMPIONS AND FINALS OPPONENTS SINCE SEASON 30
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