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.
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