Season 58 Featured Game No. 5...Gillette at Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES 88, GILLETTE 83

BIG ONE GETS OVER THE HUMPS

LOS ANGELES -- After starting Season 58 with a four-game road trip, the home team Los Angeles Big One (now 5-0) held off the charges of an obstinate Gillette team (now 1-4) by a score of 88-83 to secure a perfect record at the All Star break.

Both teams shot over 60 percent in the game, but the Big One had major advantages in both rebounding (23-14) and free throwing (16 made to 7). Still, Gillette had the home crowd sweating bullets as the Humps led by 7 points in the fourth quarter with 41 time units remaining. But the prospect of victory for the visitors dimmed considerably when star guard Maboroshi No Hotcake fouled out with 38 ticks left and his team ahead by just 4. 

Ten time units later Los Angeles tied the game, then took the lead for good at the 20 time unit mark. 

PLAYER OF THE GAME

32 GVP...Journeyman ball-handling wizard SEEYALATER SCRONTO comes up with these kinds of superb games every once in a while, and his efforts in this loss kept things interesting to the very end. The 5-11, seventh-season guard put on a show with a game-high 24-point performance that included a game-high 5 assists, a steal and a blocked shot as he went toe-to-toe with his opposite, Pinky Toe. The diminutive Scronto went 9 for 18 from the floor, including 2 of 5 from deep and 4 of 4 from the foul line. He had a total of 29 points in the first four games of the season before nearly matching that number in this game. Scronto is playing for his fourth different team in seven seasons and third different team in the past three campaigns (including spending half of last season in the cut pile). He's now averaging 10.6 ppg.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

30 GVP...Los Angeles shooting guard Pinky Toe...23 points...3 rebounds...3 assists...1 steal.

28 GVP...Los Angeles power forward Grand Demur Fuyacho...20 points...6 rebounds...1 block...1 assist. 

22 GVP...Gillette point guard Maboroshi No Hotcake...19 points...2 assists...1 rebound. 
21 GVP...Los Angeles center Otzi "The Frozen Hunter" Bolzano...15 points...3 rebounds...2 assists...1 blocked shot. 

MBA Standings … Season 58

EAST DIVISION

PHILADELPHIA………4-0

DALLAS………………3-2

OKLAHOMA CITY…..3-2

CHARLESTON……….2-3

MILWAUKEE………..1-4

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….5-0

SACRAMENTO… 3-2

SEATTLE………….2-3

GILLETTE…………1-4

SAN JOSE…………0-4

NEXT UP: The first half of Season 58 concludes with a thud of a game as the league’s only win-less team, San Jose, travels to Philadelphia to face one of the two remaining unbeaten MBA squads. This cross-over will likely give the East a familiar 4-1 victory mark over the West at the mid-point. To further emphasize the disparity of the two teams, Philly has the best defense in the MBA, yielding just 63 points per game, while San Jose has the worst defense, giving up 88.8 ppg.

BONUS

MBA MVP LADDER

(leading candidates coming into Featured Game)

Dave picked Djinn to win the MVP and he’s rebounded from a sub-par season (for him) to take a somewhat dominant lead in the MVP race. Meanwhile, the move to small forward for Leonard Pinth Garnel has allowed his talents to shine brighter than ever. He’s having an outstanding season. Coincidentally, Philadelphia traded the man in third place at the moment to Oklahoma City, receiving Philibuck Davia in return, which allowed the Garnel move to small forward. Spegatini has been outstanding in the first half of the season for the Lariats.

1. Ninth-year Dallas 6-2 Hall of Fame guard JUZAN DJINN 31.4 GVP plus 4 points for second place team = 35.4…Second in league in scoring (22.6 ppg)…third in free throwing (82.8 % with 24 made)…Second in blocked shots (15)…top scoring game of season (36 points)…two-time regular season MVP…three-time playoff MVP.

2.  Fifth-year Philadelphia 6-10 small forward LEONARD PINTH GARNEL 28.8 GVP plus 5 points for first place team = 33.8….top rebounder in league (7.5)…second in assists (4.5)…third in 3-point shooting (80 % with 4 made)…second in steals (5).

3. Oklahoma City 6-5  rookie shooting guard BONAFAZIO SPEGATINI 28.6 GVP plus 3 points for third place team = 31.6…third in league scoring (21.6 ppg)

 

MBA ROOKIE LADDER

(leading candidates coming into Featured Game)

The Spegatini trade described in the former section gave the shooting guard a chance to start, which he would not have had with Philadelphia. He’s seized the opportunity big time. Both Dave and Tyler picked Zigler to win the Rookie honor.

1. Oklahoma City 6-5 shooting guard BONAFAZIO SPEGATINI…28.6 GVP…21.6 ppg

2. Charleston 5-9 point guard HUMUHUM APUA…21.4 GVP…15.8 ppg

3. Gillette 6-8 forward ZACH “ZING-ZING” ZIGLER…16.4 GVP…12.3 ppg

Season 58 retirements

 19 Players...including 6 starters...1 Hall of Famer and 7 poor souls from the cut pile announced their retirements Thursday evening.

As Tyler observed, "A lot of talent is leaving the league," including near Hall of Fame players Eddie "the Milkman" Creamer of San Jose and Satan Israel of Sacramento. 

Two-time All-MBA center Johnny Bananas of Oklahoma City will be hanging it up and two All-MBA players from last season, two-time league-leading scorer, guard Itstha Bishop of Philadelphia and forward Phillip Mianus of Los Angeles.

Although two Dave teams (young Charleston and Gillette) escaped retirements completely, the number of retirees and starters were equal for both owners.

Dave--6 retirees, 3 starters

Tyler--6 retires, 3 starters

Six teams lost one starter each and no team lost multiple starters.

Season 58 Featured Game 4...Dallas at Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA 76, DALLAS 75

BAD KARMA TOSS WINS IT FOR PHOBIA

PHILADELPHIA -- Dallas guard Karma Chameleon missed what would have been a game-tying free throw with no time on the clock and the home team Philadelphia Phobia remained unbeaten and atop the East Division standings at 4-0.

The loss keeps the six-time defending champion Demons in third place at 2-2.

The nip and tuck game was the third straight barn-burner on the MBA schedule decided by 1 or 2 points.

Chameleon, aquired in an off-season trade with Sacramento, came off the bench for the fouled out Mini Carfartt, who was in foul trouble the entire contest. Chameleon hit a medium jump shot and was fouled at the horn to put the Demons within a point of Philadelphia...but he missed the free throw. 

The game was worthy of FEATURED GAME status, as neither team was ever able to gain more than an 8 point advantage throughout. That desperation full court shot at the half by Blob Dylan of Philly sure came in handy for the Phobia.

POINTS PREVENTED BY QUARTERS

Dallas...9...5...3...6   Total=23

Philly...2...0...0...8    Total=10

POINTS PREVENTED LEADERS

1. Poop-Rupiah 3000, Dallas 10 

2. Blob Dylan, Philadelphia 6

3. Juzan Djinn, Dallas 5

PLAYER OF THE GAME

39 GVP...He once spent an entire season in the cut pile, but "THE PHAROAH" TUT ANKHAMUN slowly worked his way into sticking with a team and giving good time units off the bench before finally being given a chance this season (his fifth) to start in the MBA. And as the point guard for the still undefeated Philadelphia Phobia, the 6-footer has proven his value as a team leader, capturing his second POG in four games. Ankhamun and his 19 first-half points pretty much kept Philadelphia in the game before his teammates began contributing in the third quarter and beyond. In this important showdown he scored a game-high 29 points, going 11 for 21, potting 4 of 7 3-point shots and sinking 3 of 4 from the foul line. Additionally, he led his team with 6 rebounds and posted a game-high 3 assists, adding 1 steal before fouling out with 16 ticks left. He's now averaging 18.3 points per game and stands a solid chance of making his first All Star Game appearance. 

Other 20-plus GVP performers

31 GVP...Dallas Hall of Fame two guard Juzan Djinn...24 points (3 treys)...4 rebounds...2 assists...1 blocked shot...5 points prevented

25 GVP...Dallas forward Venial Sinn...11 points (3 slams)...10 rebounds...2 blocks...2 assists.

20 GVP...Philadelphia center Blob Dylan...13 points...3 rebounds...2 blocks...2 assists...6 points prevented.

MBA Standings … Season 58

EAST DIVISION

PHILADELPHIA………4-0

OKLAHOMA CITY…..2-1

DALLAS…………………2-2

MILWAUKEE………..1-3

CHARLESTON……….1-3

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….3-0

SACRAMENTO… 2-1

SEATTLE………….1-2

GILLETTE…………1-2

SAN JOSE…………0-3

NEXT UP: Win-less San Jose missing their Hall of Fame center, at Sacramento. Should be a win for the R-Dogs, but you never know in the MBA.

Season 58 Featured Game...Sacramento at Seattle...plus bonus

SACRAMENTO 80, SEATTLE 66

MUNCHERS EATS UP STAMPEDE

SEATTLE -- The Sacramento River Dogs (now 2-1) scored a major early-season road win behind the 31-point

performance of point guard Rabbit Munchers, taking down the Seattle Stampede (now 1-2) 80-66.

It was the best game of the fourth-year guard's career, giving Sacramento fans hope that the long-distance gunner could lead them to a playoff spot after two consecutive last-place finishes. 

Meanwhile, Seattle, one of the preseason favorites to win the West, has now lost two in a rowd. And things don't get any easier for the Stampede as they host unbeaten Los Angeles in their next contest.

This game was nip and tuck until the fourth quarter, with Sacramento leading 57-54 arfter three. The River Dogs then left the Stampede in the dust, out-scoring them 23-12 for the victory. 

In its two back-to-back losses, Seattle has failed to reach 70 points.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

34 GVP...This might, indeed be the breakout season for Sacramento's fourth-year guard RABBIT MUNCHERS, who improved his 3-point shot in the off-season and saw it pay dividends in this big victory against Seattle. The 6-3 Munchers drilled 7 of 9 from beyond the arc, going 11 for 19 from the floor in a career-best 31-point performance. He added 2 for 2 from the charity stripe, 1 rebound, 1 steal and 1 blocked shot. He did all that despite being guarded by a fine defender in Ehhy Table of Seattle. Munchers started the season slowly but in the last two games has picked up the pace for 18 and 31 point efforts. He's got R-Dog fans dreaming again.

Other 20-plus GVP performers

25 GVP...Seattle power forward Eric A. Crocidale...16 points (6 slams)...5 rebounds...2 assists...1 steal...1 block

23 GVP...Seattle small forward J.J. "Jake" Pickle...15 points...5 rebounds...2 assists...1 block.

22 GVP...Sacramento two guard Bellybutton Inquisition...16 points...5 assists...1 rebound.

22 GVP...Seattle point guard Ehhy Table...16 points...4 rebounds...2 assists.

20 GVP...Seattle two guard Hilbee "the Skinny German" Juggleboy...13 points...4 blocked shots...2 assists...1 rebound.

MBA Standings … Season 58

EAST DIVISION

PHILADELPHIA………1-0

DALLAS…………………1-1

OKLAHOMA CITY…..1-1

CHARLESTON……….1-1

MILWAUKEE………..0-1

 

WEST DIVISION

LOS ANGELES….2-0

SACRAMENTO… 2-1

GILLETTE…………1-1

SEATTLE………….1-2

SAN JOSE…………0-2

NEXT UP:  First-place, unbeaten Los Angeles at last-place, win-less San Jose, with the Amigos missing Hall of Fame center Chochky Galumpkus. Slaughter rule game expected.

BONUS

ALL TIME TRIPLE-DOUBLE LEADERS

1. Great Gruncle Terry…17 (including one quadruple double)

2. Jimsy Redfern…16 (including one quadruple double)

3. Tom “the Bomb” Kondla…11 (including the only triple-double season ever)

3. Chip “the Crip” Battoe…11

5. Marcus Pettis…9

5. Beezow Bop-Bop…9

7. Max Payne…8

7. Juzan Djinn…8 (active)

9.  Shucks Oyster…7

9. J.D. Jedreat…7 (including one quadruple double)

9. Tug Hershorts…7

9. Diss Reflexia…7

9. Wawa Wewa…7

 

ACTIVE TRIPLE DOUBLE LEADERS

1. Juzan Djinn…8

2, Ehhy Table…5

2. Vicious Hick…5

4. Leonard Pinth-Garnel…4

5. Hilbee Juggleboy…3

5. Poop-Rupiah 3000…3