Philadelphia 98, Los Angeles 76
Phobia shocks Big One; stays in the picture
PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Phobia used a 31-point fourth quarter to pull away from the visiting Los Angeles Big One on the way to a 98-76 cross-over victory over the West's top team.
Coming into the game, L.A. boasted the top defensive team in the MBA, but behind a ravenous home crowd, the Phobia shot a blistering 76.8 percent to come within two points of the century mark.
The win keeps Philly (now 5-4) in the hunt, although the cross-over triumph does not count toward division wins and that category's important first tie-breaker status. The Phobia's last game of the season is against Dallas, in Philadelphia.
Los Angeles, halted in its effort to be the MBA's first team to clinch a playoff spot, is now 6-3. Its remaining game is on the road at Oklahoma City.
This was the 10th consecutive time the home team has won.
The win makes the cross-over tally West 6, East 3.
Points Prevented---Los Angeles 8, Philadelphia 3
Top Players in Points Prevented --- Norman Conquest and Avanish McDoogle of Los Angeles and Wawa Wewa of Philadelphia all tied with 3.
PLAYER OF GAME
The usually defensive-minded Philadelphia forward WAWA WEWA led the points parade for the winners, scoring a game-high 24 points, grabbing 4 boards and dishing out 3 assists to nab his first POG of the season. The fifth-year player was 11 for 13 from the floor and 2 for 2 from the foul stripe. He also tied for most points prevented in the game.
Other 20-plus GVP performers
-- Retiring Philadelphia shooting guard Guy "the eye" Clark, not at all known for his passing ability, led everyone in assists in this one with 5. He also scored 11 points, with 7 of those coming from the foul line, grabbed 3 boards and had 1 steal.
-- Philly's oft-underrated center Carga Larga thoroughly out-did All-MBA candidate Chutcher Mouthchair in this game. Larga scored 18 points, matching Mouthchair dunk-for-dunk, while registering a game-high 7 rebound, getting 2 assists and adding another steal to his season total of 11.
-- Philadelphia forward Santo Thomas had much the better of his opponent, Sloppy Dollop. The 6-7 Thomas scored 17 points, pulled down 3 boards and added 2 assists.
-- With 20 time units remaining in the second quarter, Los Angeles shooting guard Peeshie Pooshie had already amassed 19 points. But after picking up his third foul he left the game for the remainder of the first half. He picked up a fourth foul early in the third quarter and sat again. when he returned in the fourth he scored 2 more points...still good for a team-high 21, but far removed from what his early surge might have predicted. Pooshie also pulled down 4 rebounds and had 1 assist.
-- In his first game back from a 3-game injury, Los Angeles forward Baba Brinkman was in full launch mode, with all seven of his shots from the field coming from beyond the arc. The 6-6 veteran potted 4 of those 7. He also went 6 for 7 from the foul line for a total of 18 points. Brinkman also blocked a game-high 3 shots and added 1 assist.
NEXT UP: Kansas City (1-7), fresh off its first franchise win, visits Dallas (4-4) with Chip Battoe returning from injury. It was a 30-point beat-down the last time these teams met. Expect the same.
Defense out-weighs offense for champions through the years
Thirteen of the 44 MBA champions (29.5 percent) boasted the top defense in the MBA during the regular season.
Ten of the 44 champions had the best offense during the regular season (22.7 percent).
Only 4 of the 44 champions led the league in both categories (0.9 percent)...a rare accomplishment, indeed.
Here are the four who led in both categories (Note the gap between the third and fourth teams to turn the trick. It's not easy to do.)
Chicago Gale, Season 2
Philadelphia Phobia, Season 5
Milwaukee Greyhounds, Season 11
Oklahoma City Lariats, Season 40
Champions who led in offense (Again, note the gap between Season 16 and Season 31)
Chicago, Season 2
Philadelphia, Season 5
Philadelphia, Season 7
Milwaukee, Season 11
Milwaukee, Season 13
Chicago, Season 16
Philadelphia, Season 31
Houston, Season 34
Oklahoma City, Season 40
Charleston, Season 42
Right now the league's top offensive team is Milwaukee.
Champions who led in defense (Consistent through the years, especially as of late)
Chicago, Season 2
Philadelphia, Season 5
Philadelphia, Season 8
Milwaukee, Season 11
Milwaukee, Season 18
Philadelphia, Season 22
Philadelphia, Season 23
Philadelphia, Season 24
Oklahoma City, Season 35
Oklahoma City, Season 40
Oklahoma City, Season 41
Philadelphia, Season 43
Sacramento, Season 44
Right now the league's top defensive team is again Sacramento.
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