FALL 2009, SEASON 14
PLAYOFF PREVIEW
GOLD DIVISION
“Expect The Unexpected”
Teams,
Parking at Nogales High School is $1. If you wish to park inside, please bring a dollar, If you want to park outside and just walk to the gym the parking is free.
Please arrive early, this is the Playoffs. Also pleas bring $35 for ref fees. Thank You.
GOLD DIVISION
By: Hanz Jimenez
“Ghosts of Christmas Past”
(1) San Miguel Beermen vs. (16) Game Bang
San Miguel Beermen’s opponents flip-flopped back in forth on Saturday morning after league analysts realized Foul Play should be in the Playoffs.
“Foul Play defeated The Click twice, one was a forfeit, and the other on Week 8. They also defeated Game Bang on Week 7, giving them the tie-breaker over Game Bang.”
It was posted all week that Game Bang had the 16th spot and unfortunately for Foul Play, they already had their scheduled mapped out for Sunday morning. We move forward with Game Bang vs. San Miguel Beermen and Game Bang is hoping to make the best of their opportunity.
GM Dale Basingat was named GM of the Season while former Platinum Division Finals MVP (Spring 2008) Alphonso White was named Regular Season MVP in Gold. It’s virtually the same roster as the team they have in Platinum Division and The Show also ranks #1 in Platinum with a 7-1 record.
“The Show and San Miguel Beermen could have played this season in Diamond and Platinum Division and their teams still would have been competitive,” said a league analyst. “League officials need to fix this problem, and it is a serious problem. Look how many teams there are in Diamond and Platinum Division.”
The team had a huge drop off in scoring going from 77.0 ppg last season to 65.6 ppg this season. The team has focused more on defense this season and it’s hard to argue with the result – a perfect 8-0 season. The post-presence of Chris Mirando (2.0 bpg, 12.0 ppg) and the tenacity of Rashan Haralson on defense (1.3 bpg, 2.1 spg) have improved the team specifically in the blocks category where they’re up to 4 blocks per contest, up last year from 2.0 bpg. Alphonso White averaged 21.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 1.0 bpg n his first MVP Season and should be a huge factor for the Beermen in the Playoffs.
Game Bang is 3-5 this season and under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t have qualified for a spot in the post-season. It should only be the Top 12 facing off in Gold Division this season (only 20 teams this season) but the league expanded it to 16 since the requirements weren’t change when the season started. Will Game Bang make the most out of their opportunity?
Who will show up for the Pomona team? Jeff Reyes averaged18.7 ppg while Kevin Koda averaged 15.3 ppg, 1.6 spg. Chris Chi is posted 16.7 ppg, 2.3 spg while Beau Reyes logged 7.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg. The new bad guys are San Miguel Beermen, a team stacked with talent and athleticism. It’s ironic that this season, Game Bang made an effort to truly play with a “Gold Division roster” and in the 1st Round they face a team that stacked up just to win a Chamionship this season. This time around on Christmas Weekend, they have truly earned the respect of their peers while San Miguel Beermen is Public Enemy #1 in Gold Division.
(8) Kings of Krunk vs. (9) Flight School
“No One is In School”
Both teams are worried about their team’s attendance and Kings of Krunk vs. Flight School may come down to the team that has more players. Both teams usually play in the evening and waking up early in the morning will be a tough task for both teams.
Kings of Krunk is 5-3 this season and Rookie of the Season Chris Encines played a huge role in Kings of Krunk’s success. GM Ryan Rulloda’s team should have sunk when Jonathan Gibson left for New Mexico and SF Sam Yeung demanded to be traded to A*Team shortly after. Instead of lowering their expectations, KOK rebounded with Encines on board and he averaged 18.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg. The 2-man game between Lucky Wickremetunge (14.3 ppg, 1.9 apg) and Encines has been unstoppable in recent weeks and Kings of Krunk is favored to beat Flight School.
“This is Kings of Krunk’s 4th season and they have enough experience on their side,” said a league analyst. “Flight School is a tough team and they never give up but we have this going to Kings of Krunk because of their experience.”
The rookie team is 4-4 with rookie David Marquez averaging 17.3 ppg, 3.0 apg this season. Daniel Corral averaged 15.6 ppg while Jeb Busbin scored 6.1 ppg. Chris Thomas, a Defensive Player of the Season candidate, logged 1.5 bpg, 1.5 spg, 5.5 rpg. GM Daniel Villanueva believes his team could beat any of the top teams in Gold and a 1st Round upset wouldn’t be a surprise for Flight School.
“They have the athleticism and they play team basketball but once again experience won’t be on their side,” said a league analyst. “Winning a 1st Round match-up in their first season would be huge.”
(2) Run N Gun vs. (15) Premier
If you’re looking for an upset, look no further. The Gold Division Playoffs has been known to see quite a few upsets in the past and despite Premier’s 3-5 record, league analysts feel that the Chino Hills team can beat 7-1 Run N Gun.
Run N Gun ended the season with 3 straight wins but haven’t played since Week 7.5, two weeks ago. They’ve coasted all season only losing to San Miguel Beermen a few weeks back. Stephen Hernandez averaged 17.1 ppg and had 20 three-pointers while Rashad Martin finished with 15.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg. Damian Reyes posted 12.0 ppg while Kymon Blackwood led the team with 13 steals.
Premier is better than their 3-5 record and on Week 8, several players had to play 4 games (2 with Premier, 2 with Association). Their core players have been playing with Association and the experience in playing in a more competitive division should help Premier players especially in the Playoffs. Josh Garza averaged 11.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg while Fiyaho Babatunde averaged 8.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg. Ty Jordan averaged 10.3 ppg while GM Desmond Ann averaged 11.6 ppg, 1.6 apg.
“Actually, both teams have players playing in Platinum Division but Premier players seem to be more conditioned,” said a league analyst. “Even if Run N Gun wins, they need to win a Championship or else this season is a failure. They lost in the Finals against Buckets twice this year and without Buckets trying to stop them, they should walk away with the Championship.”
(7) Stylin On You vs. (10) Upper Hand
“Battle In The Middle”
Stylin On You Center Jonathan Spaniol has helped carry a team in the past (Boss Players) and his experience should help Stylin On You tremendously. Will Upper Hand Center Chacon David be able to stop him?
Upper Hand is 4-4 this season and they were led by PF Shadon Knight. The former MVP averaged 15.0 ppg, 1.6 spg while defensive Center Chacon Davis averaged 1.8 bpg, 12.4 rpg. Jimmy Ormiston is the leading marksman with 12 three-pointers and in 5 games, he averaged 14.2 ppg. GM Danny Medina averaged 10.0 ppg and 1.3 spg. Upper Hand hasn’t played in two weeks and rust may play a huge factor for Upper Hand. The Azusa team averaged 66.0 ppg and a franchise best 11.3 apg.
Stylin On You is a veteran capable of going deep in the Playoffs and a year ago, the Fontana team made it all the way to the Semis, beating Buckets in the Quarterfinals. Allen Brown had a huge post-season that season and this season, he averaged 12.8 ppg, 2.5 apg. Former All Star Nick Santiago averaged 8.2 ppg while Ronnie Johnson logged 17.1 ppg. Center Jonathan Spaniol will be the key player and this season he averaged 22.5 ppg, 11.4 rpg. He’s almost automatic from the post and Upper Hand will struggle guarding him. Will former GM of the Season Danny Medina find a way to stop Spaniol?
(3) Outlawz vs. (14) Brotherhood
“Playing For Each Other”
With the way Outlawz is playing right now, it will be difficult for Brotherhood to stop them. Will 3-5 Brotherhood upset 6-2 Outlawz?
Outlawz has no problem scoring and four players averaged double digits in scoring. In their 9th season, they averaged a franchise best 73.4 ppg and their 13.4 apg is also a franchise-best. They are improved on both ends of the floor thanks to the improved play of Eduardo Gonzalez.
“I think I remember him from a few seasons back, he wasn’t that good before but now he’s a legitimate big time player,” said league analyst Harry Yoo a couple of weeks back.
Gonzalez had a huge season with 22.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 2.2 bpg. Eddie Sandoval averaged 14.5 ppg, 9.8 rpg while GM David Munoz led the division in assists with 4.5 apg. Unlike in season’s past, Outlawz are well composed and the finger-pointing has been non-existent this season. Everyone knows their role and no one is trying to outdo the other.
“They’re playing with no egos, they’re playing for each other,” said another observer. “They could be in the Finals if they carry this attitude in the Playoffs.”
In Brotherhood’s 6th season, they are also averaging a franchise best in scoring with 68.0 ppg but the wins are coming up like how GM Alex Somesla likes his steak – rare. Shaun Miller averaged “just” 17.5 ppg, 10.1 rpg while Bobby Magby led the team in scoring with 19.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg. Mike Von Borstel averaged 11.6 ppg while Angelo Thomas logged 14.8 ppg. The Riverside team is getting it done from beyond the arc and this season, they knocked a franchise best 55 three-pointers, an average of 7 three-pointers per contest. Will Brotherhood shock the Gold Division with a huge upset against Outlawz?
(6) Flashback vs. (11) The Rock
“Execute”
Flashback is 5-3 while The Rock is 3-5. Both teams are well aware of the other team’s strength and weaknesses and the game will come down to execution.
GM Ben Sin is a strategist. He will look at the team’s roster and determine who the go-to players are and what defense his team should play. If he doesn’t know the team well enough, he’ll actually go to their games and scout the team for a few minutes. He’s seen enough of Flashback to determine that Rahsaan Reyes is the go-to scorer (23.0 ppg, 6.1 rpg), and Uzoma Kalu (13.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg) is their post presence. GM Chris Mosley has been Flashback’s top play-maker with 22 assists and he’s also one of the team’s best on the ball defender. The Rock is expected to play box-1 on Reyes or apply a man defense should they show up with a full roster. Flashback will be running and The Rock could either slow the game down or use an athletic line-up to counter Flashbacks’ running game. How will Mosley counter?
The Rock likes to utilize Dale Barnes in the post this season and the rookie averaged 10.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg. When he’s not posting up, Mike Ashanti (17.1 ppg), Chris Ashanti (13.0 ppg) and Raymond Henry (11.2 ppg) are doing most of their damage from the perimeter. The Rock likes to run a play for Aaron Robinson (6 three-pointers) on the wing and he could be an x-factor for The Rock. He’s struggled this season in his shot but if he gets hot, Flashback will have a problem in their hands. What this game will come down to is execution. Both teams are familiar with each other and the main players are well scouted. Will a new hero emerge when Flashback takes on The Rock?
(4) Primetime vs. (13) Bullies
“No Pressure”
Primetime ended the season with a 4 game winning streak while Bullies are reeling with a 2 game slide. Will Primetime outrun the Bullies? Will Bullies show up at all?
Last season, Bullies forfeited their 1st Round match-up and GM Hanz Jimenez vowed to re-load. In the first two games of the season, Bullies showed promise with a 2-0 start but have since struggled with a 1-5 record. Alex “Bear” Ivezaj averaged 18.9 ppg while La Mamba scored 23.8 ppg, 25 three-pointers. Mamba had the most 3-pointers this season but his offense struggled against The Rock on Week 8. Bullies cannot run with Primetime and slowing the game down would benefit the team. Several players are in and out of the line-up but this season, Lalo Arroyo is hoping to get Bullies past the first 2 rounds.
Primetime has enough experience to get past the Bullies and a Final Four appearance is on the horizon for the Baldwin Park team. Should they fail in the endeavor, then maybe it’s time to move up to Platinum Division since their luck in Gold seems to be running out. Troy Allen averaged 26.3 ppg in four games while Marcus Morten averaged 23.5 ppg. Mark Davison might not make it to the early morning game and he averaged 16.0 ppg, 11.3 rpg. They play team basketball and their ability to hit the mid-range should be enough to get them past the Bullies. No one is talking about them this season and that should help the quiet GM Dung Dang since he prefers to be overlooked.
“Whenever there’s a lot of pressure, they seem to crack,” said a league analyst. “Now that they’re being overlooked, maybe they’ll go to the Championship Round.”
(5) Got Em vs. (12) The A*Team
“BK’s Having His Way”
For the second straight season, Got Em is ranked 5th in the Gold Division Playoffs. Will they once again suffer a 1st Round knockout or will MVP candidate BK Agu play a huge role in Got Em’s post-season play?
BK Agu’s line this season: 17.0 ppg, 2.3 apg, 9.7 rpg, 2.5 spg, 2.8 bpg.
Agu should be a key contributor and he has already gone on record to say Got Em will be in the Finals this season. Will he deliver with his promise? He’ll get help on both ends of the floor as Center Harry Yoo has a knack of banging with the big boys on the low block. He averaged 6.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg and had the second most blocks in the team with 5 blocks. GM Kevin Valmonte averaged 17.0 ppg, mostly on mid-range jump shots, while Dae Han averaged 17.0 ppg in just two games. The squad is too stacked to not get past the 1st Round but the key factor will be attendance.
The two-time LeBronze Division Champions have made a nice transition to Gold Division this season and they finished with a 3-5 record. Led by Sam Yeung (13.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg), the team showed they’re capable of beating top teams and last week, they defeated #6 team Flashback to qualify for post-season play. Rookie Alan Jones averaged 16.2 ppg in 5 games while Center Orlando Williams finished with 10.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg. Point guard Yoshi Wickremetunge has been a key contributor with 9.1 ppg, 1.7 spg. What A*Team needs to do is play defense like they did on Week 8 and offense seems to be a natural part of A*Team’s game. They are averaging a franchise-high 65.3 ppg and four players are averaging in double-figures. Both teams are experienced and this game could very well be decided on the final possession.
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