WEST 82, EAST 81 (Buzzer Beater)
WEST TAKES A THRILLER
SACRAMENTO -- Power forward Grand Demur Fuyacho's free throw after the final buzzer gave the West a one-point, 82-81 victory in one of the more riveting All Star Games in MBA history.
With the West trailing by two points and one time unit left, Fuyacho got the ball down low, scored, tying the game, and was fouled by Leonard Pinth Garnel. The 6-10 third-year man from Los Angeles then calmly sank the accompanying free throw for the victory, which was the second in a row for the West.
The East still leads the series 36 to 22, but in games played in Sacramento, the West is now 5-1.
Trailing 62-54 entering the fourth quarter, the West slowly worked its way back to within 4 points when guard Pinky Toe of Los Angeles drove to the hole, scored and was fouled with 4 ticks left. His subsequent free throw was no good, but it was Toe who came flying in from the free throw line and tipped in his own miss to tie the score with 3 left.
Then in the waning moments, Garnel's lob to Poop-Rupiah 3000 of Dallas resulted in a slam and a two-point lead for the East with just one time unit remaining, leading to the Fuyacho heroics.
It was the closest All Star Game finish since Season 30 when Oklahoma City rookie guard Jerry Curl hit a medium jumper at the horn to give the West a 75-74 triumph.
Yes...Oklahoma City was in the West at that point.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
33 GVP...Fifth-year veteran Los Angeles guard PINKY TOE can now add All Star Game MVP to his Rookie of the Year, All-MBA and 5 All Star appearances in as many seasons. The 6-2 Toe led the fourth-quarter charge for the winning West, including the dramatic 4-point play that tied it up near game's end. He scored a game-high 28 points on 13 of 21 shooting that included 2 for 6 from deep and 0 for 1 from the foul line. (The reluctant Toe would not reveal if he missed that free throw on purpose as part of his game-tying play). He added 4 rebounds and 1 assist.
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