MBA Season 43 Playoff Summary

REFLEXIA RETIRES WITH SECOND PLAYOFF MVP HONOR
As you can see via this page, the retiring Philadelphia center Diss Reflexia earned the MBA's Season 43 Playoff MVP...the second time he has done so. "The Pocket Pivot" first won the award with Seattle in Season 37, his second season in the league, when he led the Stampede to its only championship. This latest MVP honor, along with the championship ring he garnered with the Phobia this season, gives Reflexia nine awards on his card. This is one short of instant Hall of Fame recognition, but puts him in position to gain Hall of Fame entry as early as next season via the veterans committee.


GULEMON MON-MON GETS INTO THE HALL OF FAME
Longtime MBA power forward Gulemon Mon-Mon became the 47th member of the Hall of Fame. His induction came via the veterans committee, whereby a player retired for at least one full season who has at least 9 awards on his card, gains entrance to the Hall if no other player with 10 or more awards has been enshrined that particular season. Only one player per season can gain Hall membership via this route.

Gulemon Mon-Mon, a 6-11 powerhouse forward, came into the MBA in Season 27 with the Oklahoma City Lariats, the same year that the Lariats welcomed their other rookie forward, Jimmy Wharfdale, who captured the Rookie of the Year award with Mon-Mon a close second. Mon-Mon spent nine seasons with Oklahoma City, the last four coming off the bench, and was part of the Lariats' championship team in Season 35, his last with the team. He was then seemingly re-born with the Dallas Demons, where he played the remaining 7 seasons of a remarkable 16-season career. During that Dallas period, he earned two All-MBA stars, the first coming in his 12th campaign and the final one in his last MBA season. He garnered 6 All Star Game appearances along the way. Mon-Mon led the league in rebounding, free-throw shooting and shooting percentage at various times in his career. He led his team in rebounding four times, in steals once, in free-throw shooting twice and in shooting percentage 6 times in his long and remarkable career.

Season 43 MBA Finals Game 4...Philadelphia at San Jose

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS
Philadelphia 5 - 7 - 5 - 0 Total=17
San Jose..... 0 - 2 - 0 - 6 Total=8

TOP PLAYERS, POINTS PREVENTED
1. Hunk R. Down, San Jose 8
2. Colquitt Croix, Philadelphia 7
3. Akbar Zagobia, Philadelphia 6


PHILADELPHIA 82, SAN JOSE 72
CHAMPIONSHIP COMES HOME TO ROOST IN PHILLY
SAN JOSE -- Following a franchise-record eight seasons without an MBA title, the Season 43 version of the proud Philadelphia tradition nailed down the 16th championship in team history, besting the San Jose Fighting Amigos 82-72 on the latter's home court.

The Phobia won this Finals match-up 3 games to 1 following a 2 games to 0 thrashing of the Oklahoma City Lariats in the Semifinals.

Fast starters throughout the playoffs, Philadelphia got off to a 21-14 first-quarter lead, courtesy of 6-11 forward Shwayze's 8 points and a 3-pointer at the horn by Poodle "Stix" Jackson. Shwayze was playing for the injured Sloppy Dollop, who had replaced him in the starting lineup after coming over from Oklahoma City as a free agent in the draft.

The Phobia seemed to have things in hand at the half, leading 44-31, but San Jose, led by shooting guard Dayshotta Leo, closed to within 6 in the third before finally ending up trailing by 9 going into the fourth.

The Fighting Amigos had their hometown fans going bonkers when they pulled within 5, 64-59 with 41 time units remaining. Then, with 26 left, Leo's 3-point play drew the home team to within 4 points, 70-66, with 26 ticks left. They would never get closer.

A medium jumper with 10 remaining by the Phobia's other key off-season acquisition, Akbar Zagobia, put Philly up 10 and all but sealed the deal.

Both teams shot over 60 percent in this final game, but as it was all season long, defense was the difference for the number one defending team in the MBA, as Philadelphia more than doubled the Amigos in points prevented.

And now, the only question remains, where do we attach the 16th championship basketball on the Philadelphia envelope?

PLAYER OF GAME
Playing against a lesser defender in Nomo Momo, third-year Philadelphia forward POODLE 'STIX' JACKSON exploited his man for a game-high 23 points and his first POG of the playoffs. The designation gave the Phobia the distinction of having all five of its regular starters come away from this championship run with one POG each. The 6-7 Jackson was brilliant in this game, going 11 for 15 from the floor, including a back-breaking 3-pointer to end the first quarter and a slam dunk along the way. He basically destroyed Momo. Additionally, Jackson led everyone in the game with 6 rebounds, led his team with 2 blocked shots, and added 3 assists and 1 steal.

OTHER 20-PLUS GVP PERFORMERS
-- Philadelphia's team MVP Colquitt Croix was outstanding in this, his first championship performance. The 6-2 point guard directed his team's offense with a game-high 7 assists (tied) while scoring 19 points. He and YourMajesty Lumpkins went toe-to-toe throughout the game, but the difference was in Croix's defense, where he prevented 7 points by Lumpkins, good for the second-best performance in the game. Three times he stopped Lumpkins on made 3-pointers (Lumpkins went into the medium zone to hit a duece on the first denied trey).

-- Like his counterpart, YourMajesty Lumpkins was outstanding leading his team's attack, tying Croix for a game-high in assists with 7. He scored 14 points, grabbed 1 rebound and had 1 steal before fouling out with 3 time units left in the game.

-- Despite being guarded by defensive ace Akbar Zagobia, who erased 6 of his points, San Jose shooting guard Dayshotta Leo burned the nets for a team-high 22 points, many in the face of Zagobia's tough D. Leo also led his team in rebounds with 4, had 1 assist and 1 blocked shot.

-- San Jose center Hunk R. Down provided his team with all 8 of its prevented points, which was the top mark in the game. In doing so, the big 7-foot All-MBA pivot had a game-high 4 blocked shots, scored 14 points, grabbed 3 boards and dished 1 assist.

NEXT UP: Playoff stat leaders and the announcement of the Playoff MVP.

Season 43 MBA Finals Game 3...San Jose at Philadelphia

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS
San Jose.... 2 - 4 - 2 - 2 Total=10
Philadelphia 2 - 5 - 2 - 0 Total=9

TOP PLAYERS POINTS PREVENTED
1. Carpaccio, San Jose 6
2. Down, San Jose 4
2. Zagobia, Philadelphia 4

TURNOVERS CAUSED BY QUARTERS
San Jose.... 0 - 3 - 1 - 2 Total=6
Philadelphia 2 - 1 - 2 - 1 Total=6

TOP PLAYERS IN TURNOVERS CAUSED
1. Jackson, Philadelphia 4
2. Leo, San Jose 2
2. Momo, San Jose 2


San Jose 80, Philadelphia 64
LEFT FOR DEAD, AMIGOS FIGHT WAY BACK TO BIG VICTORY
PHILADELPHIA -- With a 23-10 Philadelphia first-quarter lead, this potential title-clincher looked like more of the same dominance by the home team Phobia. But the San Jose Fighting Amigos, led by point guard YourMajesty Lumpkins woke up and took a chunk out of that 13-point lead in the second quarter, and suddenly, for the first time in these Finals, we had a game on our hands.

The lead was reduced to 5 points at the half and remained that way going into the final quarter, when, led by Lumpkins, the Fighting Amigos exploded for 36 points to win going away, 80-64.

Philadelphia now leads the best of five Finals 2 games to 1.

San Jose took their first lead of the game (and the series for that matter) 51-49 on a Lumpkins trey, and by the time the silky smooth sixth-year man was done with a 9-point barrage, the Amigos led 57-51, never to be headed again.

The sea change in momentum during that run included a playoff-ending injury to Phobia forward Sloppy Dollop with 54 time units remaining in the contest and San Jose ahead 54-51. Dollop (out for 7 games in the first injury of his career) had entered the game as one of three possible Playoff MVP candidates. The Phobia now lose his services for however many games remain in this Finals series. He was replaced on the roster by Vermin Supreme, who just returned to the cut pile from Chicago, where he was picked up but not used after the Gale suffered a forward injury.

Tyler must now determine who he wants to replace Dollop in the starting lineup...Shwayze, Ape Con Myth or Vermin Supreme...then put the other two in substitution order for the next game. (I'm assuming it will be the order listed above).

That next game will be played in San Jose, where the Fighting Amigos lost by just 7 ... 75-68. But this time, Philly will be without Dollop.

Things just got a lot more interesting.

PLAYER OF GAME
After scoring just 6 points in Game 2 of the Finals, San Jose point guard YOURMAJESTY LUMPKINS shook off his scoring drought and poured in a game-high 30 points, a majority of which came in the second half. The 6-2 Lumpkins, who led the MBA in 3-point shooting, fired in 6 of 7 long ball attempts during his 9 for 12 effort from the floor. He added 6 free throws in as many tries while dishing a team-high 3 assists as he dominated Colquitt Croix. Lumpkins was the guy Tyler pointed to as a possible catalyst for the Amigos, and he was right on in that scenario.

Other 20-Plus GVP Performer
-- The only other player in this game to reach 20 GVP was Philly forward Poodle "Stix" Jackson who scored 13 points, and topped everyone in three other categories, getting game-highs in rebounds (5), steals (2) and blocked shots (3). Jackson also topped all players in causing turnovers, with 4.

MBA FINALS GAME 2 ... Philadelphia at San Jose

Philadelphia 75, San Jose 68
PHOBIA TEES UP 16th CHAMPIONSHIP
SAN JOSE -- The Philadelphia Phobia demonstrated their team depth and "The Pocket Pivot" Diss Reflexia registered the seventh triple-double of his career as they bested San Jose 75-68 on the home court of the Fighting Amigos.

Although this turned out to be the closest anyone has come to beating the Phobia in the playoffs, the game was really never in doubt, even when Phobia star guard Colquitt Croix and running mate Akbar Zagobia were in early foul trouble (with Croix fouling out for the second time in four playoff games). The dominance barely wavered, with substitute Philadelphia guards Red Reparee (10 points) and Chief Keef (9 points) actually out-scoring the two starters 19 to 15.

San Jose coach Augustus McCrae will try to shake up the lineup by replacing Mike Hunt with Nomo Momo in what will likely be the final game of the Season 43 campaign as the teams return to the City of Brotherly Fear.

PLAYER OF GAME
Making a strong bid for his second Playoff MVP award, 6-7 Philadelphia center DISS REFLEXIA locked horns again in a spirited battle with All-MBA center Hunk R. Down and emerged with the seventh triple-double of his illustrious career and the first POG of this post season. Reflexia tied for game-high scoring honors with 18 points, and was high man in the game in both rebounds (8) and assists (5), blocking 1 shot. The retiring star was 9 for 11 from the floor, the only misses being a blocked shot by Down and a 3-point attempt by Reflexia. He also slammed home a pair.

Other 20-plus GVP performers
-- San Jose shooting guard Dayshotta Leo dominated his opposite, Akbar Zagobia, scoring 14 points, getting 3 boards, tying for game-high blocked shots honors with 2 and leading everyone with 2 steals.

-- San Jose fans got to see another donnybrook in the middle between hometown hero Hunk R. Down and Diss Reflexia. Down tied Reflexia for game-high scoring honors with 18 points and led his team in rebounds with 6. He also had 1 assist and 11 rebound.

ALL TIME TRIPLE-DOUBLE CAREER LEADERS

16 -- Jimsy Redfern

11 -- Tom "the Bomb" Kondla

9 -- Marcus Pettis
9 -- Beezow Bop-Bop

8 -- Max Payne

7 -- Diss Reflexia
7 -- Tug Hershorts
7 -- J.D. Jedreat

S43 MBA Finals Game 1...San Jose at Philadelphia

Philadelphia 88, San Jose 64
RELENTLESS PHOBIA CHURNS TOWARD TITLE
PHILADELPHIA -- This looks like it could be a long/short championship series for the San Jose Fighting Amigos. Long because three straight whoopings seems like an eternity, and short because three games is the minimum time a best of five title series can last.

For the third straight post-season game and the first of this Finals, the Philadelphia Phobia dominated its opponents from start to finish. Coach Stu Nod's charges have now played 12 playoff quarters and have trailed in none of them.

They rocketed out of the gate before an appreciative home crowd in Game 1 of the Finals and led by 10, 26-16 at the end of one quarter, then increased that lead every quarter thereafter. Their league-leading defense was on display throughout, with San Jose making just 49.1 percent of its shots.

Phobia small forward Poodle "Stix" Jackson got his team off and running in the first with a perfect 4 of 4 from the field (2 of 2 from deep) for 10 points. Then, to put salt in the Amigos' wound, rarely used Philly forward Ape Con Myth came in for a short period of time and hit three straight hoops. It was all downhill from there for the visitors.

It will be interesting to see if San Jose can put up a better fight on its own home court, But this Phobia team seems poised to secure Philly title No. 16.

PLAYER OF GAME
Philadelphia point guard COLQUITT CROIX destroyed his opposite YourMajesty Lumpkins in this title series opener, scoring a game-high 26 points to just 12 for Lumpkins. Croix was 10 for 15 from the floor, including 3 for 5 from deep and 3 for 4 from the foul stripe. He also pulled down 2 rebounds and registered 1 assist. Not too shabby for the fourth-year star's first finals game.

Other 20-plus GVP performers
-- The two best centers in the MBA played to a virtual standstill in this opener, with Philadelphia's Diss Reflexia scoring 16 points, getting 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 blocked shot.

-- Philly forward Sloppy Dollop continued his excellent post-season with 16 points, a team-high 5 boards (tied), a game-high 2 steals and 1 assist. He dominated Egg Yolk Carpaccio throughout the contest.

-- The other Philadelphia forward, Poodle "Stix" Jackson tickled the twine for 18 points, tied Dollop for team-high rebounding honors with 5, blocked a team-high 2 shots and recorded 1 steal.

-- Although his shot attempts and scoring output was limited to 10 points, All-MBA center HUNK R. DOWN of San Jose celebrated his first Finals appearance by putting together the first triple-double of his career. The 7-footer led everyone in rebounds with 6 and swatted away a game-high 6 shots as well. He also added 1 assist.

-- Small forward Mike Hunt of San Jose led his club in scoring with 17 points while grabbing 4 boards and adding 1 assist and 1 steal.

S43 MBA Playoffs Deciding Game 3...Chicago at San Jose

San Jose 83, Chicago 71
AT LONG LAST, FIGHTING AMIGOS EARN TRIP TO FINALS
SAN JOSE -- Close friends are punching each other in the face tonight in San Jose in an expression of joy that would be unexplainable elsewhere.
The Fighting Amigos are going back to the MBA Finals for the first time in 14 seasons after besting the Chicago Gale 83-71 in the deciding Game 3 of this hard-fought semifinals.

They finally got over the hump.

This will be the fifth time San Jose has reached the finals, and it will be the first time the Fighting Amigos will appear in the championship series without the best player in their history, Saggital Occlusal, who led the team to its lone title in his rookie season and into the Finals three more times before hanging up the proverbial index card jockstrap.

Points Prevented Per Quarter
Chicago 0 - 3 - 0 - 2 Total=5
S. Jose 4 - 2 - 4 - 4 Total=14

Top Individuals in Points Prevented
1. Dayshotta Leo, San Jose 4
2. Santo Thomas, Chicago 3
(6 tied with 2)

PLAYER OF GAME
After popping in a trey on the first time unit of the game, San Jose shooting guard DAYSHOTTA LEO went on to a huge Player of the Game performance that spurred his club to victory and into the MBA Finals. The 6-5, five-season veteran tied for top scoring honors in the game, scoring 22 points on 10 of 14 shooting, including 1 for 1 from beyond the arc and 1 for 1 at the foul stripe. Leo also led his team with 5 rebounds, tied for game-high in steals with 2 thefts and tied for game-high in blocked shots with 3 while registering the highest number of points prevented in the game. He totally dominated Norman Conquest. Some question Leo's shady past, but this dry cleaning delivery boy came up huge in this big game.

Other 20-plus GVP performers
-- Battling foul trouble all game long as well as the defensive efforts of Chicago's King Schmeckpepr, All-MBA center Hunk R. Down of San Jose still made a big impact in the clincher. Down scored 16 points, grabbed 3 boards, had 1 steal, 1 assist and 1 blocked shot to help get his team into the finals.

-- San Jose small forward Mike Hunt stepped in for the injured Blue "Rondo" Alaturk early in the season and has been a huge contributor throughout the campaign. In this game he scored 12 points, had 3 boards, 3 assists and tied for most blocked shots with 3.

-- You can't ask too much more of the royal pivot, King Schmeckpeper, who stepped in for the injured Yo Noid and played the post like a mighty mighty monarch. The 6-11 Schmeckpepr scored 18 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, had 1 steal and 1 assist while battling a pair of All-MBA opponents.

-- With fellow forward Pietro Destroyer out with injury, Chicago needed a big game from power forward Bill Cull, and they got it. The 6-8 Cull hit from medium, short and low all game long to finish tied with Leo for top scoring honors with 22. He also pulled down 3 boards and had 1 assist.



NEXT UP: The Finals
The best in the West faces the Beast from the East as San Jose (8-2, 2-1) travels to Philadelphia (9-1, 2-0) to take on the favored Phobia. The teams did not meet during the regular season. They feature the top two defensive teams in the MBA, with the Phobia yielding just 67 points per game and San Jose giving up just 71.2. San Jose is the league's top rebounding team, with Philly ranking third. Philadelphia scored 75.2 per game (7th) while San Jose averaged 77.6 (third). Both teams were 8-0 in their respective divisions.
These two franchises have met twice before in the MBA finals...in Season 29 when the Phobia won in five games and again the following season, with Philly outlasting the Amigos 3 games to 1.

S43 MBA Playoffs semifinals Game 2...Philadelphia at Oklahoma City

Philadelphia 86, Oklahoma City 74
PHOBIA HEAD TO FINALS WITH EASY SWEEP OF LARIATS
OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Philadelphia Phobia is taking aim at its 16th MBA championship, having dispatched the over-achievers from Oklahoma City two games to none.

Although the second victory over the Lariats was not the 31-point trashing Philadelphia laid on them in the initial playoff contest, the outcome was never in dispute, with the Phobia taking an 11-2 lead early before finally settling for the 86-74 triumph.

The win was accompanied by a playoff record (tied) 21 assists for Philly, a mark first set in Season 18 by the Phobia against Dallas and matched in Season 39 by Charleston, also against Dallas.

The winning road warriors zipped passes all over the court, with guards Akbar Zagobia (8 assists) and substitute point man Red Reparee (7 assists) running the offense flawlessly in view of the virtual absence of Philadelphia star Colquitt Croix, who spent almost all of the game in foul trouble and eventually fouled out.

Both teams shot above-average for the game, with Philly at 63.8 percent and Oklahoma City at 61.5.

The game marked the end of the career of one-time Phobia player Mel A. Noma, who will be retiring for Oklahoma City after winning his second assist title this past season.

The Phobia now await the winner of the other semifinal series between San Jose and Chicago, which currently has the Fighting Amigos and Gale tied one game each. Philadelphia will be going after its first championship since Season 33 when it won its mind-boggling fifth consecutive title.

This will be the 22nd time the Phobia have appeared in the MBA Finals, which is more than half of the league's championship series. And don't forget, the Phobia did not even exist in Season 1, coming in as an expansion franchise in Season 2. Their last two finals appearances were in Seasons 37 and 38, where they fell short to Seattle and Chicago, respectively.

PLAYER OF THE GAME
Normally content with playing smothering defense and grabbing rebounds, Philadelphia two guard AKBAR ZAGOBIA did those things and more in this Semifinals clincher. Playing in front of his old home crowd, Zagobia registered the third triple-double of his career, scoring 17 points, pulling down a team-high (tied) 7 rebounds and distributing a game-high 8 assists. He also added 1 steal to go with the 4 thefts he had in Game 1. The 6-4, fourth-year man was 6 for 11 from the floor and 5 for 9 from the foul line.

Other 20-plus GVP performers
-- Retiring Philadelphia center Diss Reflexia was virtually unstoppable near the bucket, getting 19 points, grabbing 2 boards, netting 2 assists and blocking 1 shot in the win.

-- Philadelphia power forward Sloppy Dollop followed his 24-point POG performance of Game 1 with a team-high 20-point effort in this game. The former Lariat also grabbed 5 rebounds and had 1 assist.

-- Second-year power forward Goodbar "Muddy" Masterson of Oklahoma City matched Dollop's effort with 15 points, a game-high 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 blocked shot.

-- All-MBA forward Bang-Bang Reiner concluded his brilliant fifth season with an 18-point effort that included 1 assist and 1 blocked shot.

-- It took until the final opportunity of his seventh season for Oklahoma City guard Cremofsum Yunguy to show what he could do with extended playing time, and given the chance, the longtime cut pile guy gave a little hope for the Lariats in the future and the index cards pining away in the discard envelope. With Mel A. Noma in constant foul trouble, Yunguy came into the game and kept his team within shouting distance, scoring a game-high 26 points, getting 2 rebounds and 1 assist. Yunguy spent five long years amidst the rejects, but maybe Oklahoma City has a YourMajesty Lumpkins-type success story on its hands.

NEXT UP: The decider. Chicago goes back to San Jose minus key starting forward Pietro Destroyer (injured) in Game 3 of this semifinal series.

MBA S43 Playoffs Semifinals game 2 San Jose at Chicago

Points Prevented by quarters
San Jose 0 - 6 - 6 - 3 Total=15
Chicago 2 - 2 - 7 - 2 Total=13

Top Points Prevented Players
1. Mike Hunt, San Jose 11
2. Lapiz Lapiz Boligrafo, Chicago 5
3. King Schmeckpepr, Chicago 4

Chicago 80, San Jose 62
Gale, Boligrafo even series, lose Destroyer
CHICAGO -- The Chicago Gale, behind the 31-point performance of point guard Lapiz Lapiz Boligrafo, used a strong second half to coast to an 80-62 home win and even the best of three semifinals series at one game each.

They did so, however, with another costly loss, as star forward Pietro Destroyer was injured with 58 time units remaining in the third quarter and was forced to leave the game. He will also miss one more contest, which will be the game in San Jose to determine which of these teams goes to the Season 43 MBA Finals.

At the time of his injury, Destroyer was the leading scorer in the game. For the decisive Game 3, he will be replaced in the Chicago starting lineup by third-year man Santo Thomas. The Gale will thus be playing this most important contest without two of its five starters, the other being center Yo Noid, who suffered a season-ending injury during the ninth game of the regular season. Eleven-year veteran forward Vermin Supreme was plucked by Chicago from the cut pile to fill out the forward spots on the roster.

Game note: Amazingly, Chicago was whistled for just two fouls the entire game. But the Gale's rookie head coach Vic Hitler still picked up the game's only technical.

PLAYER OF GAME
Picked up from Seattle in a preseason trade for guard LaQuill McCool and a third round pick next season, LAPIZ LAPIZ BOLIGRAFO has been outstanding for the Gale throughout this exciting campaign, but never as good as he was in this elimination game. All the seven-season vet did was go a perfect 11 for 11 from the floor, including 5 for 5 from beyond the arc, to lead all scorers with 31 points. (He was one shot away from the playoff record of 12 for 12 held by three different players). Boligrafo also had a dunk, was 4 for 7 from the free throw line, grabbed 2 rebounds, had 1 assist and 1 steal. Additionally, he was second in the game in points prevented.

Other 20-plus GVP performers
-- Chicago power forward Bill Cull did not have an especially great shooting game, but managed to score 13 points while contributing game-high numbers in both rebounding (8) and assists (4).

-- San Jose point guard YourMajesty Lumpkins scored 13 points, pulled down 5 boards and tied for team-high with 3 assists.

-- Although limited to just 10 points, San Jose shooting guard Dayshotta Leo blocked a game-high 3 shots, pulled down 5 rebounds, had 1 assist and 1 steal.

-- The dominance exhibited by San Jose's All-MBA center Hunk R. Down over Chicago's King Schmeckpepr was not enough to prevent what turned out to be a rout. The 7-foot pivot again led his team in scoring with 17 points while also leading in rebounds with 7. He tied for team-high in assists with 3 and blocked 1 shot.

NEXT UP: Highly favored Philadelphia looks to eliminate the surprising Lariats on their own home court. Philly leads its semifinals series 1-0 and has massacred Oklahoma City in both meetings.

Game 1 Semifinals Oklahoma City at Philadelphia

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTER
Oklahoma City 0 - 0 - 4 - 0 Total=4
Philadelphia 2 - 6 - 4 - 4 Total=16

TOP INDIVIDUALS IN POINTS PREVENTED
1. Sloppy Dollop, Philadelphia 6
2. Diss Reflexia, Philadelphia 4

Philadelphia 84, Oklahoma City 53
PHOBIA PUTS THE FEAR IN VISITORS
PHILADELPHIA -- After crushing Oklahoma City by 19 points in the final game of the regular season, the highly favored Philadelphia Phobia turned up the juice even more in the playoff opener with a resounding 31-point triumph over the Lariats.

There was never a doubt in this, the Phobia's first playoff victory in five seasons, as the home team made mince meat out of the over-matched Oklahoma City club. One for 13 shooting from beyond the arc by the Lariats did them no good.

PLAYER OF GAME
Philly forward SLOPPY DOLLOP captured his second POG in as many meetings against his old team, leading everyone in scoring with 24 points while preventing the most points of any player in the game. Dollop played rings around his opponent Goodbar Masterson, going 11 for 18 from the floor, including a perfect 2 for 2 from beyond and a trio of exceptional dunks. He led everyone in blocked shots with 2, tied for team-high with 5 rebounds and dished 1 assist in the massacre.

OTHER 20-PLUS GVP PERFORMERS
-- In the first playoff game of his fine career, Philadelphia point guard Colquitt Croix played with a brilliantly efficient flair, scoring 18 points, grabbing 4 rebounds, dishing out 4 assists and swiping 1 steal.

-- Playing in his last post-season, Philly center Diss Reflexia started the playoffs by dominating the top rookie center in the game, Willie Carry McCoffee. Reflexia scored 17 points, tied for top rebounding totals on his team with 5 and dished 1 assist, finishing second in points prevented.

-- Also in his final go-round, Oklahoma City point guard Mel A. Noma had a good game despite his team's putrid performance. Noma scored 14 points, had 4 rebounds and led his club with 4 assists.

-- Oklahoma City shooting guard Brownie McShytles led his team in scoring with 17 points, but took 19 shots to do so. He also pulled down 4 boards.

NEXT UP: The playoffs return to Chicago after a four-season absence as the Gale faces San Jose in an early elimination game. The Fighting Amigos took care of Chicago 79-69 and lead the best of three semifinals 1-0.

Playoffs Semifinals Game 1...Chicago at San Jose

San Jose 79, Chicago 69
CARPACCIO IN SPOTLIGHT AS AMIGOS TAKE GAME ONE
SAN JOSE -- Egg Yolk Carpaccio, your table is ready!

The least productive member of the West Division champion San Jose Fighting Amigos led the way to a 79-69 Game 1 triumph before a delirious home crowd Tuesday night. The 6-10 power forward registered a triple-double, coming within one assist of the rare quadruple-double, as San Jose won its first playoff game since Season 32 to take a 1-0 lead over Chicago in this best of three opening round for Season 43.

The team has bowed out of the past four post-season appearances without netting a win.

The visitors from Chicago got off to a fast start and led 26-19 after the first quarter, but the Amigos, powered by a 28-point third-quarter surge, took over by 7 entering the fourth and were never again headed.

San Jose totally dominated the boards in this game, 27-13. At the half, Carpaccio was out-rebounding Chicago 6-5 as the Fighting Amigos held an overall 16-5 advantage on the glass.

It did not help Chicago that its top scorer on the year, Bill Cull, had to sit due to old injuries in three different quarters, missing a total of 99 time units in the game.

So now the series goes back to Chicago, where the Gale already faces elimination.

Game note: All 10 starters from both teams reached double digits in scoring.

PLAYER OF GAME
If fourth-year forward EGG YOLK CARPACCIO plays anywhere close to his performance in this game, San Jose might just have a chance at winning its second MBA crown. All the 6-10 Carpaccio did was score 16 points while registering game-highs in rebounds (8), blocked shots (6) and tying for game-high honors in assists (4). The blocked shots in this game equaled his total for the entire season. He was 7 for 11 from the floor, hitting his first trey of the year in his only attempt, while slamming one home for good measure. At the foul line he was 1 for 2. He totally overshadowed Bill Cull.

Other 20-plus GVP performers
-- San Jose shooting guard Dayshotta Leo started slowly, but before it was over had racked up 16 points, grabbed 4 boards, and added 1 assist and 1 blocked shot to the triumph.

-- All-MBA center Hunk R. Down also got out of the gate slowly, getting three of his shots blocked by King Schmeckpepr, but the big 7-footer would not be denied. Showing strong moves around the hoop, Down ended up leading everyone in scoring with 17 points while pulling down 5 rebounds. He also blocked 2 shots for good measure.

-- Chicago forward Pietro Destroyer led his club in scoring with 16 points, grabbing 3 rebounds and tying for game-high in assists with 4.


Next up: Game 1 of the other semifinal series as the upstarts from Oklahoma City travel to Philadelphia to take on the highly favored Phobia.

Season 43 Leaders
SCORING
NAF NAF, CHARLESTON 20.0 ppg (HOF) (RETIRING)
COLQUITT CROIX, PHILADELPHIA 19.7
BILL CULL, CHICAGO 19.5
BANG-BANG REINER, OKLAHOMA CITY 19.1
DR. MARCHUS BRODY, LOS ANGELES 18.1 (Rookie)
(Naf Naf wins record seventh consecutive scoring title)

REBOUNDING
STEVE CARTER, LOS ANGELES 5.9 per game
HUNK R. DOWN, SAN JOSE 5.7
CHIP BATTOE, DALLAS 5.5 (Rookie)
(Carter first guard since Jerk Starks in Season 1 to win rebounding title)

ASSISTS
WAWA WEWA, CHARLESTON 4.2 per game
MEL A. NOMA, OKLAHOMA CITY 4.2 (retiring)
YOURMAJESTY LUMPKINS, SAN JOSE 3.8
(Wewa is first forward to ever place first in this category)

3-POINT SHOOTING
YOURMAJESTY LUMPKINS, SAN JOSE 61.1% - 33 made (94.1)
NAF NAF, CHARLESTON 47.2% - 42 made (89.2) (HOF) (RETIRING)
COLQUITT CROIX, PHILADELPHIA 57.8% - 30 made (87.8)


STEALS
POTUS OBAMA, SACRAMENTO 10
SLOPPY DOLLOP, PHILADELPHIA 10
NAF NAF, CHARLESTON 8 (HOF) (RETIRING)


BLOCKED SHOTS
CHIP BATTOE, DALLAS 53 (ROOKIE)
YO NOID, CHICAGO 24
UGATTA NOLUVFER SPIKIE, MILWAUKEE 19
(Battoe just fifth rookie to win blocked shots title)

FREE THROWS
COLQUITT CROIX, PHILADELPHIA 89.3% - 25 made – 114.3
BILL CULL, CHICAGO 94.7% - 18 made – 112.7
WAWA WEWA, CHARLESTON 100.0% - 12 made – 112.0
(Second title for Croix in three seasons)

PLAYER OF THE GAME
YOURMAJESTY LUMPKINS, SAN JOSE – 4 TIMES
NAF NAF, CHARLESTON – 4 TIMES (HOF) (RETIRING)
COLQUITT CROIX, PHILADELPHIA – 4 TIMES

TIMES FOULED OUT
MEL A. NOMA, OKLAHOMA CITY – 6 TIMES (RETIRING)
JAMES “CHERRY CHALLENGE” PAYNE – 4 TIMES (ROOKIE)
(four others tied with 3)


TRIPLE DOUBLES
CHIP BATTOE, DALLAS – 4 (ROOKIE)
BOP-BOP, CHARLESTON – 2 (HOF) (RETIRING) (9 career triple-doubles)
BANG-BANG REINER, OKLAHOMA CITY – 1
BASKETS WEAVER, MILWAUKEE – 1
AKBAR ZAGOBIA, PHILADELPHIA – 1 (2 career triple-doubles)
POTUS OBAMA, SACRAMENTO – 1
WAWA WEWA, CHARLESTON – 1
KYLE SHERWOOD, SEATTLE – 1

TOP SCORING GAMES
38 POINTS…BILL CULL, CHICAGO vs. Charleston
37 POINTS…CHIP BATTOE, DALLAS vs. Chicago
35 POINTS…NAF NAF, CHARLESTON vs. Dallas (HOF) (RETIRING)
31 POINTS…SHEIK YERBOUTI, CHARLESTON vs. Chicago
31 POINTS…DR. MARCUS BRODY, LOS ANGELES vs. San Jose (ROOKIE)
31 POINTS…COLQUITT CROIX, PHILADELPHIA vs. Chicago
30 POINTS…BANG-BANG REINER, OKLAHOMA CITY vs. Los Angeles
30 POINTS…NAF NAF, CHARLESTON vs. Milwaukee


All-MBA Team…Season 43
FIRST TEAM
GUARD – DR. MARCUS BRODY, LOS ANGELES (26.1 GVP) (First time – Rookie season)
Rookie point guard more than lived up to the preseason hype for The Big One. In most seasons he would have been Rookie of the Year. Led team in scoring, assists and blocked shots.
18.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 3.0 apg, 4 steals, 14 blocked shots, 63.9 FT%, 50.0 FG%, 3 POGs, 1 Trip. Doub.

GUARD – NAF NAF, CHARLESTON (24.4 GVP) (Seventh time – Seventh season) (HOF)(Retiring)
Ties Curly Hogbottom for most All-MBA teams made. Led league in scoring for the seventh consecutive time in his final campaign. Tied for most POGs in league. Had most 30-point games.
20.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.9 apg, 8 steals, 61.1 FT%, 46.9 FG%, 4 POGs, 42 3-Pointers made

CENTER – HUNK R. DOWN, SAN JOSE (22.7 GVP) (First time – Fourth season)
After three seasons as back-up, takes the foil star in the pivot in initial campaign as starter for first place Fighting Amigos, justifying switch from two-time All-MBA center Pippi Pippistrelli.
14.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.1 apg, 17 blocked shots, 1 steal, 86.7 FT%, 78.0 FG%, 3 POGs

FORWARD – CHIP “THE CRIP” BATTOE, DALLAS (29.6 GVP) (First time – Rookie season)
Rookie power forward for Demons exceeded the highest of expectations, winning the league’s regular season MVP award handily. Stifling defense, superb rebounding, outstanding scoring.
18.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 0.6 apg, 53 blocked shots, 75.0 FT%, 67.8 FG%, 4 Triple-Doubles, 3 POGs

FORWARD – BANG-BANG REINER, OKLAHOMA CITY (26.3 GVP) (First time – Fifth season)
Led surprising Oklahoma City team to playoffs after moving to his natural position at small forward. Finished second in league in MVP points, fourth in league in scoring.
19.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2 Blks., 5 steals, 79.2 FT%, 61.4 FG%, 3 POGs, 1 Triple-Double

SECOND TEAM ALL-MBA
Guard – Colquitt Croix, Philadelphia (24.2 GVP) (Fourth Season) 19.7 ppg, 89.3 FT%, 4 POGs
Guard – Beezow Bop-Bop, Charleston (24.1 GVP) (Tenth Season) 15.1 ppg, 15 blocks, 3 POGs
Center – Diss Reflexia, Philadelphia (21.8 GVP) (Eighth Season) 14.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 81.7 FG%
Forward – Bill Cull, Chicago (24.9 GVP) (Sixth Season) 19.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 94.7 FT%, 79.8 FG%
Forward – Doo-rag Dripp, Sacramento (22.8 GVP) (Third Season) 16.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3 POGs

(Bop-Bop and Reflexia will both be retiring)

MVP VOTING (top 3)
1. CHIP BATTOE, Dallas 32.6 MVP points
2. BANG-BANG REINER, Oklahoma City 30.3
3. HUNK R. DOWN, San Jose 27.7
(Battoe is the fifth Dallas Demons player to win the MVP award, the first since Tom “The Bomb” Kondla captured the honor in Season 33)

ALL ROOKIE TEAM
G – Dr. Marcus Brody, Los Angeles 26.1 GVP
G – Hurricane Furrwizard, Milwaukee 16.6
C – Willie Carry McCoffee, Oklahoma City 19.4
F – Chip Battoe, Dallas 29.6
F – James “Cherry Challenge” Payne, Milwaukee 17.8


TEAM MVPS
CHICAGO GALE – BILL CULL, 6th Season, 6-8 forward 24.9 GVP
CHARLESTON MOUNTAINEERS – NAF NAF, 7th Season, 6-0 guard 24.4 GVP (HOF)(Retiring)
PHILDELPHIA PHOBIA – COLQUITT CROIX, 4th Season, 6-2 guard 24.2 GVP
DALLAS DEMONS – CHIP BATTOE, Rookie, 6-8 forward 29.6 GVP
MILWAUKEE GREYHOUNDS – BASKETS WEAVER, 6th Season, 6-4 guard 20.3 GVP
SEATTLE STAMPEDE – BOUGAINVILLEA HEDGE, 3rd Season, 6-8 forward 20.1 GVP
SAN JOSE FIGHTING AMIGOS – YOURMAJESTY LUMPKINS, 6th Season, 6-2 guard 23.8 GVP
LOS ANGELES BIG ONE – DR. MARCUS BRODY, Rookie, 6-1 guard 26.1 GVP
SACRAMENTO RIVER DOGS – DOO-RAG DRIPP, 3rd Season, 6-7 forward 22.8 GVP
OKLAHOMA CITY LARIATS – BANG-BANG REINER, 5th Season, 6-7 forward 26.3 GVP




PLAYOFF PREVIEW
San Jose Fighting Amigos 8-2, 1st in West
vs.
Chicago Gale 7-3, 2nd in East
Best of 3
These two teams met once in the regular season (first game of the new campaign) with Chicago taking down San Jose 88-68 with Gale's Hunk R. Down and Pietro Destroyer sharing POG

Philadelphia Phobia 9-1, 1st in East
vs.
Oklahoma City Lariats 5-5, 2nd in West
Best of 3
These two teams met once in the regular season (last game of the campaign) with Philadelphia cruising 83-65 behind co-POGs Colquitt Croix and Sloppy Dollop

Winners of semifinals advance to best of 5 Finals

San Jose
Championships - 1 (most recent in Season 25)
Most recent playoff appearance - Season 41

Chicago
Championships - 3 (most recent in Season 38)
Most recent playoff appearance - Season 38

Philadelphia
Championships - 15 (most recent in Season 33)
Most recent playoff appearance - Season 38

Oklahoma City
Championships - 3 (most recent in Season 41
Most recent playoff appearance - Season 42

My prediction...Philadelphia over Oklahoma City in sweep
Chicago over San Jose in three games
Philadelphia winning it all in four games over Chicago

MBA Season 43 Regular Season Stats and Honors

Featured Game...Philadelphia at Oklahoma City

PHILADELPHIA 83, OKLAHOMA CITY 65
PHOBIA PUTS PLAYOFF FEAR INTO LARIATS
OKLAHOMA CITY--In a preview of semifinal playoff action, the Philadelphia Phobia coasted home with a comfortable 83-65 cross-over road win against the Oklahoma City Lariats.

The game concluded Season 43's regular season schedule, with the Phobia finishing with a league best 9-1 mark, first-place in the tough East Division, while Oklahoma City ends in second in the West at 5-5, taking a three-game losing streak into the post-season.

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS
Philadelphia 12 - 3 - 2 - 6 Total=23
Oklahoma City 0 - 0 - 2 - 4 Total=6

TOP PLAYERS IN POINTS PREVENTED
1. Sloppy Dollop, Philadelphia 6
2. Colquitt Croix, Philadelphia 5
3. Poodle "Stix" Jackson, Philadelphia 4
3. Red Reparee, Philadelphia 4



PLAYERS OF GAME
Philadelphia's four-year point guard COLQUITT CROIX finished off the regular season in fine style, notching his fourth POG, which ties Naf Naf of Charleston and YourMajesty Lumpkins of San Jose for the most in the circuit. He entered this game sixth in the guard rankings and trailing Naf for the second All-MBA guard spot 23.5 to 24.4. This effort just might put him over the top. Croix scored a game-high 24 points that included 9 for 11 shooting (a perfect 4 for 4 from deep) and 2 for 2 from the foul stripe. He also grabbed 3 boards and tied for game-high in assists with 4. Additionally, the point guard was second in the game in preventing points. He entered the game needing 27 points to tie Naf for the scoring title, falling just 3 points short. This gives Croix a 19.7 ppg scoring average, the first time in his career he has not reached 20 per game. It also makes him runner-up for the scoring crown to Naf for the fourth consecutive season.

Philadelphia power forward SLOPPY DOLLOP returned to the familiar environs of Oklahoma City for the first time in this game along with teammate Akbar Zagobia. Dollop gave his old fans a painful reminder of what they were missing. The fourth-year, 6-7 leaper scored 17 points grabbed a team-high 6 boards, dished a game-high (tied) 4 assists, stole a game-high (tied) 2 and blocked a game-high 2 shots. He was 8 for 14 from the floor, including 5 high-flying dunks , while going 1 for 1 at the foul stripe. He came into the game needing 2 steals to tie Potus Obama of Sacramento for the steals championship, with both ending up with 10. He was also outstanding on defense in this game as the top player at preventing points in the contest.

Other 20-Plus GVP performers
-- Shooting guard Brownie McShytles of Oklahoma City had a fine game against his old club, scoring 15 points, grabbing 2 rebounds and handing out a team-best (tied) 3 assists.
-- Second-year power forward Goodbar "Muddy" Masterson continues to out-play preseason expectations, getting 15 points, grabbing 2 boards, getting 1 assist, 1 block and tying for game-high with 2 steals.
-- Forward Bang-Bang Reiner of Oklahoma City solidified his first All-MBA foil star with a performance that included a team-high 16 points, a game-high 8 rebounds, a team-high (tied) 3 assists and 1 steal. He came into the game third in the league in scoring, needing 25 points to overtake Naf Naf for the league's top forward spot.

Game Notes: Diss Reflexia's first game back from injury was not good enough to overtake Hunk R. Down of San Jose as All-MBA center. But Philly is happy to have him back all the same.
The cross-over win by Philadelphia gives a final commanding tally of 7-3 in wins vs. losses for the East Division.
Finally, in his final campaign, Oklahoma City point guard Mel A. Noma need 3 assists to tie forward Wawa Wewa of Charleston for the assists title. He was able to procure just that many, giving him a second such individual championship. It also marks the first time in the 43-season history of the league that a non-guard (Wewa) won an assist title.

FINAL STANDINGS

East Division (no changes since last bracket)
1st -- Philadelphia 9-1 (predicted 2nd)
2nd -- Chicago 7-3 (predicted 4th)
3rd -- Dallas 6-4 (predicted 3rd)
4th -- Charleston 5-5 (ended with 3-game winning streak) (predicted 1st)
Last --Milwaukee 0-10 (second team ever to go without a victory) (predicted last)

West Division
1st -- San Jose 8-2 (predicted 1st)
2nd -- Oklahoma City 5-5 (predicted 4th)
3rd -- Los Angeles 4-6 (division wins tie-breaker) (up from 4th) (predicted 2nd)
4th -- Sacramento 4-6 (down from 3rd) (predicted 3rd)
Last -- Seattle 2-8 (predicted last)