ASAS BLOG

Shanghai, CN – The Championship match of the SIBL Rec. League between the 9-0 Chicks That Spit and the 6-3 Lightspeed Pepsi was a classic battle between the old guards and the young guns. On the face of it, LP6 with it’s veteran players of Bruce Robinson (age 46), Sean Liu (age 45), Gin Chao (age40), and Cezar Cezar (age 32), would not have much of a chance against a team that had dominated the league with their 4 scorer combo of Geoff Harry, Greg Kitt, Rob Genovesee, and Lucy Lindel. All in their 20’s except for Geoff.

Besides missing LP6 leading scorer, Paul, LP6 was also without Ron “the Smooth” Cao, Harry “The Style” Hui, Alvin “the Nasty” Wang and Juergen “The Coach” Spriewald.

LP6 started the game setting the tempo of the game, with hard drives to the hoop and drawing fouls. While, CTS used their outside speed with Greg Kitt driving and dishing. With 4 minutes before halftime, CTS had a solid 8 point lead, however, before the half ended, the Brazilian Assassin had a highlight play of the day. Greg Kitt of CTS was on a fast break drive, dribbling behind a visibly tired Cezar. Like an antelope, Cezar sensed Greg, turned around suddenly and trapped the ball on the floor. Cezar immediately took the ball back the other way and scored on Geoff and Rob with a driving bank shot and foul. In that sequence, LP6 was able to cut the game half time score to 23-22.

In the second half LP6 continue their drives to the hoop with veteran guard Rich “the In” Lin, and with Cezar, and Rich shooting from the outside, and Stanley Ng and Bruce Robinson scoring inside. The game went back and forth, with LP6 holding a staggering 4 point lead with 4 minutes to go. The nervous boys from CTS called a timeout and regrouped, with D3 Hobart state guard Robert Genovese taking the lead with a one hand dunk and two big 3 pointers from the top of the key to go ahead by 3. CTS sealed the victory, when LP6’s Cezar nearly hitting tying 3 pointer with just seconds to go.

CTS ended the season with a perfect record of 10-0, while the old guards of LP6 came within 4 points (67-63) of upsetting an undefeated team, ending with a respectable 6-4 record.

Sports Insider

Shanghai, CN – The SIBL Finals was a match of the top 2 teams and a show case of the top 2 point guards in the league. Wreckin’ Crew, the defending champions, are looking to grab a Back-to-Back championship, and The Elites, appearing for their first Challenge League Finals, are the team who’s got something to prove.

The first opening minutes of the first half, both teams started slow. This was unexpected from the Wreckin’ Crew as they’ve been in the Finals of SIBL number of times, as well as last season’s champion. The Elites, obviously emotional without one of their star player Michael Johnson from an ACL injury, showed first time jitters. The Elites made many early turnovers and missed layups in the first few minutes of the game. However, it wasn’t until Emil Buccilli (#0), The Elites top guard, ignited the fire for his team. Buccilli pick-pocketed a ball, 1 of 7 totals for him, and drove all the way for The Elites first point since of the game. Daniel Prunty (#7), co-captain, and Marco Stifel (#4) of The Elites followed suit, use their speed and crisp passing that got The Elites to the Finals, to break down Crew’s bigger and slower post men. Prunty and Stifel finished the game with 10 points and 8 points respectively.

The experience of Crew wouldn’t let the Elites out do them. Using their size, the Crew capitalizes on second chance opportunities. The Crew’s offensive rebounds edged The Elites 8-6 in the first half, 15-10 the entire game, not a huge difference considering Crew’s size. However, unlike The Elites, majority of Crew’s offensive rebound turned into easy put backs and points from the perimeter. Joey (#0) of the Crew came off the bench in the first half triggering his ammunition, briefly shifting the momentum from The Elites. Joey made quick 3 point and 2 point buckets, both coming off from offensive rebounds of Crew’s aggressive big men. The Elites, however, continuously rotating their bench and utilizing every player’s energy, kept their momentum and built a comfortable lead for the first half.

After the half time rest, the Crew, fully energized, came out running and gunning in the early minutes of the second half, showing The Elites that the champs are here to play and it’s not gonna come easy for the first timers. The star guard, Murat (#10) of Wreckin’ Crew, piloted the come back and Murin(#8) sneaky plays provided a huge boost in the first 5 minutes of the second half. Murat hitting an emotional 3 pointer to start off the run, then quickly came back hitting another long 2 pointer, then following that up with a heady back to back assist to Murin and Luke Lister (#9) underneath the basket for easy buckets. Murin also contributed with a number of floor burns and offensive boards during the huge 10-0 run by the Crew. Lister finished the game with a team high 16 points and 5 rebounds.

But Buccilli wouldn’t let his team throw in the towel. Buccilli, being vocal all year, gathered his teams to stay focus and to “keep attacking and don’t wait”. After the menacing spurt of the Crew, Buccilli took it upon himself to get the offense re-energized even when he was charged a 4th foul at mid of the second half. At one point, Buccilli scored a 3 point shot with an “and 1″, putting an exclamation point to the Wreckin’ Crew that The Elites are here to take the ultimate prize from the champs. Buccilli finished with a Finals game high of 20 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assist and a consensus Most Valuable Player award.

The Elites are now amongst the elites, SIBL Champions. Final Score 59-44.

ASAS Sports Insider

All season long in everyone’s mind, the Jiangwan Division is not as competitively strong as the 2nd Medical Division . With the likes of Ron Burgundy, The Elites, and Speed Limit in 2nd Medical, it’s hard to disagree. But after the final buzzer sounded on Sunday, there was no doubt that the best two teams in the league, played in the SIBL finals. The Wreckin’ Crew, the well experienced team, and UES (a.k.a “You Yi Si” in Chinese pinyin), the new comer, both came from Jiangwan Division.

After a disappointing 2nd place finish last season, Wreckin’ Crew came to this season’s playoff looking to take what’s theirs. They came so determine, beating their opponents in the playoffs on an average of 21 points spread. Every player of the Crew was so focused in the final game that not even a crack in the microscope could get them out of focused. Every false whistle from the referee or taunts from UES fans, they didn’t show any ill effect, not even a nudge. Instead it was straight face, all business, through out the game, focus on conquering the SIBL Trophy. A sign of a well experienced team.          

Unlike Wreckin’ Crew, UES is a newcomer to SIBL. Who would have thought UES would be the second best team in a season full of many great teams, and many false hopes. Not until mid season when people started to respect UES. Just ask Triple S and Omron, after UES single handedly out run them in the regular season . However, UES’s road to the finals wasn’t as smooth sailing as Wreckin Crew. It took a buzzer beater shot in the quarter finals to over come the feisty Yummy Bagel team, and then, advancing to the semi-final where they grudge it out with Ron Burgundy to the end.

UES, without one of their star shooter, Freddy #1, also captain of UES, played like they have nothing to lose and everything to prove in the first half. Despite not having their captain, their shooting was phenomenal in the first half and even took a 3 point lead over the Crew at half time. Theo #23 started the game gunning, launching 3s from all over and finishing on fast breaks. Theo finished with a game high 21 points. There were no answers for Theo, but Rohan #3 of Wreckin’ Crew took it upon himself to play harder defense, frustrating Theo at every shot he took. Rohan, who finished with 19 points and 9 rebounds, followed with consecutive jumpers, and a few floor burns, to keep the game close. Also sparked by Marin #8 who came off the bench to score 6 consecutive points, mostly off rebound and sticky defense. Regardless of Marin’s heroic, Ryan #1, who finished with 5 assist, kept pushing UES run-and-gun offense many at the benefit of Theo and Cody,#40, who also finished with 16 points.

By second half, the experience of Crew showed why they are the team to beat this season. Wreckin’ Crew came out more aggressive and physical, “wrecking” everything that comes in front of them and quickly erasing the half time lead of UES. Wrecking Crew’s leading scorer, Antonio #6, lead the charge and finishing the game with 17 points and 11 rebounds. UES free throws were exceptional. They showed composure on the free throw line even against the loud Crew’s fans, whose cheering and jeering made the match much like an NCAA tournament atmosphere. The big man George, #21,from UES doing everything to stop the Crew’s momentum made an emphatic dunk as if to send a message to the raucous Crew fans. This however did little to extinguish the fire that had already ignited for the Crews. George finished with 17points and a game high 18 rebounds. Murat, who ensured that his teammates stayed focus, made two key threes to keep the Crew’s momentum high. UES showed early sign of fatigue in the second half, a result from playing against a stronger and bigger team. By mid second half, Wreckin’ Crew over powered UES in every aspect of the game, like they have all season long. Every time UES tries to make a run and take a step forward, Wreckin’ Crew immediately push UES two steps back. Wreckin’ Crew’s balance scoring attack includes Luke finishing the game with 18 points and Murat with 20 points and a game high 8 assist.

Despite UES’s mastery on the court, there was no answer for team Crew’s power. Wreckin’ Crew wins SIBL 2009 Champions!

Note: In the NBA, Bruce Bowens, Robert Horry, and Steve Kerr all have multiple championships but may not make the Basketball Hall of Fame. Rohan and Luke now have a number of Championship trophies in their career, obviously puts them in the elite group in ASAS-SIBL history. However, are they SIBL Hall of Fame bound?

SportsInsider – ASAS Magazine

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