Bakshi, Chung earn individual honors following playoff championship

BAKSHI CAPTURES PLAYOFF MVP HONORS

Hall of Fame guard Hrundi V. Bakshi of Houston earned his second Playoff MVP honor (the second in the past three seasons), as the trio of All-MBA performers from the championship team went 1-2-3 in the voting, with Ching-Chong Chung and Sanjay Patel finishing second and third, respectively.

Bakshi's award marked the fifth MVP honor he has captured in his illustrious career. The 6-7 franchise player has won three regular season MVP awards and two Playoff MVP awards.

And he finally earned a championship ring in this, his sixth MBA campaign.

Bakshi captured regular season MVP honors in his rookie season for Milwaukee, Season 29, repeated that honor with Milwaukee in Season 30, won Playoff MVP in Season 32 in a losing cause for Milwaukee, won regular season MVP for Houston this season, then captured the Playoff MVP in helping Houston to the title.

Bakshi became the 10th player to have won both MVP honors in the same season and the first to turn the impressive trick since Sagittal Occlusal did so for San Jose in Season 27. The complete list is as follows:

Season 3 -- Cappy Gambol in his first year with Milwaukee, leading them to their first title.
Season 6 -- Cappy Gambol, leading Milwaukee to their third title in four seasons.
Season 14-- Stu Nod of Philadelphia, leading the Phobia to their fourth title and first in six seasons.
Season 19 -- Curly Hogbottom of Philadelphia, leading his team to their sixth title -- first non-guard to turn trick.
Season 21 -- Tersio Tataruga of Dallas' second straight title team in a freaky season where he averaged more than 6.2 points more per game than he did in any other season in his career. The lone double MVP winner on this list not in the Hall of Fame. A forward.
Season 22 -- Curly Hogbottom of Philadelphia, led Philly to seventh title.
Season 23 -- Joey Two-Tones of Dallas, sparkling, speedy guard, first double winner to not play on a title team.
Season 25 -- Sagittal Occlusal of San Jose, first and only rookie to turn the trick, leading team to only title.
Season 27 -- Sagittal Occlusal of San Jose, third player to win two double MVPs, second to finish with runner-up team.
Season 30 -- Hrundi V. Bakshi of Houston.

Bakshi's MVP award, the fifth overall of his career, ties him with Curly Hogbottom and Sagittal Occlusal for second place in all-time MVP awards won. First place, all alone, is the great Cappy Gambol with six.

In his six MBA seasons, Bakshi has now accumulated 17 individual honors, placing him tied for seventh place with Link Lennex and Stu Nod as the most honored player in league history. That list, which determines how a player's card is displayed in the Hall of Fame, is as follows

1. Curly Hogbottom -- 25 awards
2. Uncle Bob Masterson -- 21 awards
3. Sagittal Occlusal --19 awards
3. Cappy Gambol -- 19 awards
5. Boone Doggle -- 18 awards
5. Mamadou Zongo -- 18 awards
7. Link Lennex --17 awards
7. Stu Nod -- 17 awards
7. Hrundi V. Bakshi -- 17 awards
10.Diamond Dallas Paige -- 16 awards
10.Jonny Cockaroo -- 16 awards

CHUNG EARNS HALL OF FAME RECOGNITION WITH A FLOURISH

Ching-Chong Chung of the Houston Iguanas became the 36th member of the MBA Hall of Fame with the championship ring placed on his index card following Season 34. Chung was a driving force behind Houston capturing its first MBA title in 22 seasons, putting together his second All-MBA season and leading everyone in playoff scoring with his relentless 19.8 points per game performances.

Chung, who just completed his 9th MBA season, ties Silo Chamberlain as the smallest members of the hallowed Hall, both players being 5-10.

Along with his two All-MBA seasons and the championship ring, Chung has appeared in 7 All Star Games, which ties him for the 6th highest total appearances in the star contest. His five starts in All Star Games is tied for 9th most ever.

He has been his team's high scorer in six of the nine seasons he has been in the league, with a single-season high of 20.2 for Houston in Season 31. Additionally, he has led his teams in assists three times, steals six times, and free throw shooting three times. Despite his diminutive size, Chung has been in double figures in shots blocked six of his nine seasons.

He is the 16th guard elected to the Hall and is currently tied with Doug Fresh for 13th best guard career in history, ranking ahead of fellow Hall of Famers Chamberlain and Oscar Mudcat. He is tied for 26th place in all-time best careers with Alex Pal and Fresh. And there is no reason to believe he will not improve upon all of his totals, beginning next season.

As can be attested by the back of his card, Chung has been a model of consistent excellence throughout his career with first Milwaukee and then Houston.

HOUSTON COMPLETES RARE POST-SEASON SWEEP

Houston 69, Oklahoma City 65

HOUSTON -- The Houston Iguanas, built an early 20-9 lead, then held off the Oklahoma City Lariats to become the first MBA team in 19 seasons to go unbeaten in the post-season. The victory, performed in front of a delightedly clammy full house at The Terrarium clinched the first Iguanas title since Season 12 and the fourth championship for the proud franchise.

Oklahoma City, led by small forward Taylor Quackstick and his game-high 19 points, came within 2 points of the eventual winners at 67-65 in the fourth quarter, but could not overcome the balanced scoring of the Iguanas.

MVP of the Game for the second straight contest was Hall of Famer Hrundi V. Bakshi, who led his team with 18 points and 7 rebounds, while dishing 4 assists and blocking 2 shots. Stone Flinthorn, the powerful strong forward for Houston, came up with the second triple-double of his career with 10 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists.

Every single Houston starter was in double figures and contributed at least one blocked shot to the victory.

This was the first time since Philadelphia turned the trick in Season 15 that any club has gone a perfect 5-0 in the playoffs. Prior to Season 16, that kind of perfection was nearly a given, as seven teams in the first 15 seasons went 5-0 in the playoffs. The win also ties the S-15 Philadelphia bunch for the best single-season record in history at 14-1.

The Season 34 Title also assures 8-year veteran Ching-Chong Chung a berth in the hallowed MBA Hall of Fame. He will replace the retiring Cheetos Jones of Philadelphia and join teammate Hrundi V. Bakshi as one of two active Hall of Famers next season, Season 35.

Houston on verge of fourth championship

Houston 72, Oklahoma City 53

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Following their total 72-53 dominance in Game 2 of this Season 34 Finals, the Houston Iguanas stand ready to tie for the best overall record in any one season. Should they fulfill the series and playoff sweep with a victory in The Terrarium, they will not only get their fourth title, and first since Season 12, but tie the record of the Philadelphia Phobia as best ever for one season. That Philly team, like this Houston team, was 9-1 in the regular season and swept through the playoffs with a 5-0 mark.

The Phobia champs of Season 15 completed a two-year reign atop the MBA and were led by a trio of Hall of Famers: Stu Nod, veteran center Rip Slamjam and rookie forward Cam Bodia, who would go on to earn a record six championship rings. Joining Nod on the All-MBA team that season was defensive specialist Mayor Quimby at forward and at the other starting guard, Phil Davia's Cicero barber Guytano Logiuduce.

In this second finals game, Houston was led by its trio of All-MBA players, Hall of Famer Hrundi V. Bakshi, soon-to-be-annointed Hall of Famer Ching-Chong Chung and center Sanjay Patel. Bakshi was the Game MVP with 16 points 6 rebounds, 4 blocked shots, an assist and a steal. Chung was the game's high scorer with 20 points and Patel chipped in 14 points and 6 boards, blocking 1 shot.

The Lariats will be getting back 17-season veteran center Achilles Heel for the next contest, but it may already be too late. Heel will be replacing the high scorer in this last game for Oklahoma City, Kevin Mickle, who had 14 points.

The Terrarium will be steaming in sweaty anticipation of the team's first championship in 22 campaigns.

Houston comes from behind to take Game 1

Houston 74, Oklahoma City 71

HOUSTON -- The Game is four quarters long. It's unclear as to how 4 by 6 index cards that call the Houston Iguanas envelope their home know this. But they sure seem to.

The Oklahoma City Lariats led after every one of the first three quarters in this Season 34 Championship Finals opener, only to see the Iguanas put on the defensive clamps down the homestretch and thwart the potential theft of Game 1.

The final was 74-71, but the tale of the tape is in the last quarter where Houston held the visitors from the West to just 11 points after allowing them 22 to start the game and 23 in the second quarter.

You could feel it coming in the third quarter, where the Eastern Division champions and heavy favorites outscored their opponents 21-15 to pull within four points.

Somewhat uncharacteristically, the Iguanas mounted their comeback with precision passing (15 assists) that led to high percentage shots (68.1 percent team shooting) while taking just 47 attempts overall.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma City was yakking up 62 shots and hitting 48.0, which was nearly as effective, but not quite.

Looking at the lineups, the teams are fairly evenly matched except in the point guard position, and that slight edge to Houston was, in fact, the difference in this one. Walt White of Oklahoma City and Hrundi V. Bakshi of Houston can both score, but Bakshi plays some defense, while White plays almost none. Bakshi's trio of blocked shots on White were all on good shots from his opponent, two from 3-point land, and that was more than the difference in the final score.

MVP of the Game was Lemon Jell-o, the two guard for the Lariats who led all scorers with 20 points and played strong defense against Ching-Chong Chung (while switching over more than once to thwart Bakshi).

Houston had great balance, with four starters getting between 12 and 18 points. The one who did not make it into double figures, Stone Flinthorn, was the game's top rebounder with 7 and limited his man to just 8 points while dishing out four assists.

This series could have become very interesting had Oklahoma City been able to steal the opener. Now they go home with a must-win situation in this best of five set.

Series Note: Should Houston win the title, Ching-Chong Chung would get his 10th award and be admitted to the MBA Hall of Fame.

Lariats advance to finals in overtime thriller

Oklahoma City 77, Chicago 73 (Overtime)

CHICAGO -- The balanced scoring attack of the Oklahoma City Lariats outlasted the Chicago Gale 77-73 in overtime in one of the more thrilling playoff contests ever witnessed, disappointing a home crowed that had witnessed an improbable last-minute comeback by their heroes to force the extra period.

Down 5 with 7 time units remaining, the Gale got a bucket by Big Pete Bowmore, then a defensive stop. All seemed lost when Lemon Jell-o of Oklahoma City knocked the ball away from Chicago guard Poppy Poppalucco. But Orange Jell-o of Chicago was first to the ball, unleashed a 3-point attempt, and hit it while being fouled in the process. His free throw put Chicago up by one. In the waning seconds, Oklahoma City regained the lead when Taylor Quackstick was fouled and hit both ends of a one-and-one. But with two time units remaining, Orange Jell-o of Chicago was fouled and went to the line for a one-and-one. He hit the first to tie the score, but fucking missed the one that could have clinched the game.

Chicago led early in overtime by four points when their third starter, Beezow Bop-Bop, fouled out of the game with 12 time units remaining. Oklahoma City's 13-year veteran guard Tubes Mullard tied the game and basically turned things over to Lariats forward Abe Binder. From that point, Binder gave his team the lead with a short jumper, defended Bowmore on what looked like a sure bucket underneath, then scored again as time ran out.

The Lariats will now play the Houston Iguanas for the Season 34 MBA Championship in a battle of East and West division winners. Oklahoma City, which has never won a title, returns to center stage for the first time since Season 18.

But first, a few more facts about this last playoff barn-burner.

* Both teams were led in scoring by substitute guards. Mullard had 16 against his old team, Chicago. The Gale were led in scoring by the notoriously bad shooter Poppy Poppalucco, a defensive stalwart who had the game of his life offensively, leading all scorers with 17 points on perfect 7 for 7 shooting. The Gale needed every one of those points because leading scorer Didger A'doo was hampered by foul trouble throughout, and finally did foul out with just 6 time units gone in the fourth quarter.

* Four players fouled out in this game, three by Chicago and Walt White, the Lariat's leading scorer.

* Oklahoma City had 6 players in double figures.

* Slick passing was featured by both teams, with the Lariats getting 17 assists and Chicago 15.

* The MVP of the Game award went to Chicago center Wayan Garuda, who scored 13 points and was a pillar of strength on the boards with 11 rebounds.

Houston heads back to finals

Houston 91, Sacramento 67


SACRAMENTO -- After easily dispatching the Sacramento River Dogs 91-67, the Houston Iguanas are back in the MBA finals for the second consecutive year...this time as the favorites.

The visitors from Texas started strong and never looked back. The only questions were if they would hit the 100-point mark (they didn't), whether MVP of the Game Ching-Chong Chung would break Dan Mann's playoff scoring mark of 38 (he didn't, scoring 30) and whether the Iguanas would emerge from the series without injury (they did).

The only positive for Sacramento, which has now gone four straight playoff appearances without a win, was the emergence of rookie guard Patchy Fogg, who came into the game in the second quarter and scored 15 points, and finished his team's high scorer with 21. Where the hell was THAT all season?

Lariats outlast Chicago in opener

Oklahoma City 73, Chicago 65

OKLAHOMA CITY--The Oklahoma City Lariats, getting good help from their bench, took Game 1 of this best of three series against the Chicago Gale, delighting the home crowd with a solid 73-65 victory.

The Lariats got 10 points, 3 steals, 3 blocked shots, 3 assists and a pair of rebounds from off the pines. Leading the way was 6-9 third-year center Phuc Mailife, who was on the roster only because starter Achilles Heel was injured and on the court for much of the game because Kevin Mickle was in foul trouble and eventually fouled out. Mailife, a cut pile project, had never scored in the MBA, taking just one shot in the one game he played. But in this important playoff contest, he was 3 for 5 from the floor for 6 points, including a slam dunk on his first shot, while chipping in with a rebound, an assist and a pair of steals, the second one coming in the fourth quarter when Chicago had cut a 10-point lead down to 6. Seldom-used forward Gabba Penton also contributed an assist, a steal and two blocked shots while long-timers Gulemon Mon-Mon and Tubes Mullard played tough in limited action.

Power forward Abe Binder topped the Lariats in scoring and rebounds with 18 and 7, respectively, while point guard Walt White added 16 as the home team shot 57.4 percent for the game while keeping the Gale shooters to 44.2 percent.

Beezow Doo-Doo Zopitty Bob Bop-Bop, the Chicago rookie who played a huge role in getting the Gale to the playoffs for the first time in 17 seasons, had a nightmare shooting game in his first post-season effort. Bop-Bop went 2 for 13 from the field, including 0 for 7 from behind the arc.

The visitors got an MVP of the Game performance from guard Didger A'doo, who led everyone in scoring with 23 points, and center Wayan Garuda, who had 16.

Chicago, the best free-throw-shooting team in the league, also hung around because they were 15 for 17 from the charity stripe, compared to 5 for 6 for the Lariats.

"Beezow Doo-Doo Zopitty Bob Bop-Bop feels really horrible about his performance," said Chicago head coach Uncle Bob Masterson, but his remarks fell on deaf ears since deadline-conscious reporters could not wait for Masterson to complete his rookie guard's name.

Had they stayed, they would have heard the coach wonder aloud about flipping the guard positions for Game 2 in Chicago, which is now a do-or-die affair for the Gale.