Superstar Basketball

CHAMPION vs. CHAMPION
SPRING 2008 GOLD CHAMPIONS, FABULOUS
vs.
SUMMER 2008 GOLD CHAMPIONS, NUSANTARA

 

For the past year in the crowded Gold Division, no one has been able to predict which team will come out on top of the league’s popular division, Gold Division. The  

JUST SAY NO TO LEBRONZE

With just 3 teams joining the league’s new lower division, LeBronze Division, the League Commissioner and league analysts pushed Nusantara to the LeBronze and the team responded with an angry e-mail. 

“I really think we’re a good team but putting us in LeBronze is very insulting. We know we didn’t do so well the season before but that was just some of our teammates. We won 1 game, but this season, our team is back. C’mon Commish, find another team to push down to LeBronze…”

Elements saved LeBronze and Nusantara moved up just a week before season started. The team from San Bernardino finished with a 5-3 record led by Chris Ostos who averaged a season-high 17.7 ppg, 2.0 spg. He was one of the division’s top 3-point shooters hitting 20 three-pointers in 6 games. Teammates would look for him in the baseline notably Daniel Hasibuan and Roy Tabingo who dished out 20 and 16 assists respectively. The early season predictions had 626′ers, Silent But Deadly and San Miguel Beermen winning in Gold and the summer season saw the top 4 teams knocked out of the playoffs in the quarterfinals.

CINDERELLA TEAM

The playoffs are a different story in Superstar Basketball. The favorite teams in Gold haven’t won since Spring 2007 (Zero Balance) and the “superstars” of the league who drop to play in Gold haven’t been able to lead their team to the chip. In the Gold Division Playoffs, you need Lady Luck on your side.

Nusantara faced a B.O.B. team and Ostos went to work scoring the first 10 minutes for Nusantara. The game came down to a last minute three-point attempt by B.O.B. All Star Damian Reyes and Nusantara advanced with a 60-59 win.

The next round, Nusantara faced #3 seed 562 Renegades, a team that had a bye in the 1st round. The hero was once again Chris Ostos and he led the team with 10 three-pointers, 40 points. It was a clutch 3-pointer that banked in for Ostos that put the game into OT, a period Nusantara dominated from start to finish. The moment was caught in Superstar Radio with a play-by-play that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

“The crowd was deafening after Ostos hit that last second 3-pointer,” said a league analyst.  ”That was one of the unforgettable moments of 2008.”

San Miguel Beermen waited in the Semifinals and jumped on Nusantara from the beginning of the match-up. Nusantara countered with a 12-3 run and in the end, the game came down again to one last shot. San Miguel Beermen’s All Star, Caylen Clark, missed both free throws to seal the deal for San Miguel and Ostos showed how clutch shots were made by hitting a buzzer beater to win the ball game.

In the Championship Game, Nusantara trailed 30-26 at halftime but knowing how lucky they’ve been to get this far, they seized the opportunity. They responded with a 8-0 run and never looked back with Ostos finishing 27 points and 11 rebounds. The scoreboard read, 60-55, and if they had gone to Vegas after, the slot machines would have probably read Jackpot.

“How much luck do these guys have?” questioned a San Miguel Beermen player. “They need to go to Vegas or buy a lottery ticket, or something…”

FREEBIES

Fabulous was the next cellar-dwellar team and they were the butt of jokes until Andrew Brewer took over the squad. He brought down former players from Parking Lot Pimps (Platinum Division team), yet everyone still overlooked them. They were the team that no one saw play. Three times, the team was awarded with a win: 2 forfeits and a game that Finishline lost due to a disqualification (altercation within team). 

The team finished with a 5-3 record and started the Playoffs with a 9th seed. Sam Yeung led the team with 66 points, 13.2 ppg while Justin Ondoy averaged 2.4 apg, 10.6 ppg. Yeung, a former Platinum Division MVP, led the team with 11 three-pointers and 6 steals.

Fabulous opened the playoffs with a 62-59 win over Blazers. Jorge Sandoval led the team with 19 points and 10 rebounds while Ondoy logged 8 assists.

WE CAN TAKE THIS

In the next round, Yeung was on fire with 5 three-pointers and 15 points overwhelming #1 seed team, Primetime. It was a 53-46 upset and knocking down the #1 seed team was enough of a confidence builder for Fabulous.

“We didn’t play that many games in the regular season but we knew we could take out some of the top teams in the Playoffs,” said Yeung. “After being the top team and losing in the Playoffs, I’m glad to say it’s finally our turn.”

WIth so much confidence heading into the Championship Game, Fabulous dismantled Stylin On You with a 58-47 win. Every player played well and contributed to their part that it was considered as one of the most difficult Finals MVP voting to date. The award was handed to Justin Ondoy who finished with 10 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals.

HEAD-to-HEAD

Fabulous - 48.6 ppg, 5 three-pointers per game, 6.0 apg, 22.6 rpg, 6.0 spg, 1.4 bpg
Nusantara - 59.3 ppg, 5 three-pointers per game, 7.8 apg, 30.1 rpg, 6.1 spg, 1.6 bpg

VIRTUALLY EVEN

Justin Ondoy vs. Roy Tabingo

Fabulous’ Finals MVP was their point guard, Ondoy, who made everything easier for them. He could set up his teammates while creating his own shot. His match-up against Nusantara’s point guard, Roy Tabingo is virtually even.  To top it off, both point guards like to shoot from the wings just above the free throw line.

Tabingo averaged 11.0 ppg, 2.3 apg, 6 three-pointers.
Ondoy averaged 10.6 ppg, 2.4 apg, 5 three-pointers.

THE X-FACTOR

FABULOUS
That x-factor for Fabulous would be to stop Nusantara’s MVP, Chris Ostos. Limiting his shots with defenders Sam Yeung and Kevin Bonifacio should be the primary game plan for the West Covina team. They also need to stop the speedy backcourt of Tabingo, and Daniel Hasibuan.

NUSANTARA
Fabulous plays team ball and any of their shooters can go off on any given day, just like their squad. The team’s best shooter is Sam Yeung and limiting his shots should be the primay goal. There’s too many quick guards for Nusantara and Ondoy should be a non-factor as long as Nusantara utilizes their bench.

UNHERALDED PLAYERS

FABULOUS
Andrew Brewer looks like the least person any player should worry about but his hustle and his ability to grab timely rebounds is under-rated.  He averaged 4.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg as a role player and playing limited minutes for his team.

NUSANTARA
Daimon Pandjaitan. When your Center is averaging 10.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg and is considered as one of the team’s unheralded player, that means your team is stacked with talent. He’ll make it difficult for Jorge Sandoval to get his shots and most likely frustrate him on the defensive end fouling out the foul prone Sandoval just before halftime.

PREDICTION

Sam Yeung will hit several key shots at the top of the perimeter for Fabulous while Chris Ostos will hit his baseline three-pointers with ease. The game will go back and forth with Fabulous leading the game 40-30 at halftime.

Fabulous will have several key players foul out in the second half when Nusantara goes on their run. They can’t match the intensity Nusantara brings since Nusantara has a bench full of guards who are capable of going all out for all 40 minutes.

The loud fans of Nusantara will affect Fabulous and crunch time will belong to Nusantara. They showed how clutch they were in 4 games in their Championship run. With that much luck, how can you go against them?

OUTCOME
Nusantara: 80, Fabulous, 78