10/03/19
BPL-Singapore, Regular Season
Game 3
German European School Singapore

EntourageBBall Inc. vs. Proform Basketball: 101 – 95

In one of the most entertaining games of the season, E.B.I. edge out Proform in a high-scoring, crazy-shotmaking showdown. Both teams’ top-scorers notched 44 and 43 points respectively while Proform twice led with 20 points only to lose the lead in crunchtime.

Scoring. A vital aspect of most sports and especially Basketball, has been on the rise in the best BBall league on Earth, the NBA. The evolution of the 3-Point shot, position-less basketball, the dwindling importance of low-post scoring and tighter rules imposed on defenders have contributed to the league’s teams piling up the points.

Two-thirds of that league’s teams average more than thirty 3-point attempts per game, relying on the math that given enough made shots, the 3 always beats the two-pointer. The league leaders in this category, for the 3rd consecutive season, are the Houston Rockets. They throw up 45.4(!) threes per game, easily an NBA all-time record.
What still remains to be seen is if this downtown shooting barrage can lead to championship success, something the Rockets will again try to prove as the NBA playoffs begin this Weekend.

The mission statement of the Basketball Premier League, Singapore, dictated by league organiser Noel Pollock, states that the new league aims to feature the best amateur players in Singapore. Well, the third regular season game sure seemed to deliver on some of that, especially on offense. E.B.I squared up against perpetual rivals, Proform Basketball, delivering a Basketball gala during the following 90 minutes. Proform got off to a roaring start, hitting long range shots and getting to the freethrow line.

Such was the precision shooting on display that the men-in-green seemed a bit rattled, turning the ball over and missing easy shots. With an 18-Point first quarter lead under their belt, Proform kept their foot on the gas…on offense.

The 3-time Crossover League champs finally joined the proceedings with a 31-Point outburst in the second quarter cutting into their opponent’s big lead. Halftime score: 56 – 45 for Proform.

Falling behind again by double-digits early in the 3rd quarter, the offense, led by a hot-shooting Jerel (44 points, 10-16 on threes) was purring along just fine but Proform just kept making shots.

Two things factored into the eventual win by E.B.I: the short Proform rotation, only 2 substitute players, got even smaller when one of the guards attacked EntourageBBall vet Tony, and got ejected from the game.
Then E.B.I went on a blistering 17-2 run in the final quarter to shrink Proform’s lead to single-digits.

At this stage of the game, Proform’s leading scorers, Alex (43 Points) and Noel (27) began missing shots and making critical mistakes which led to fastbreak points for the now soaring E.B.I team.

Two minutes before the final buzzer, Proform’s starting Point Guard fouled out, sealing the team’s fate. EntourageBBall was able to get defensive stops, while executing their plays patiently on offense.

It was with a certain sense of relief that the victors left the German European School Singapore post-game, knowing full well that a 7-man Proform team had given them all they could handle that day.
The team overcame high double-digit deficits in each half and, led by outstanding performances by Jerel, Jean Baptiste and Chi, was still competing hard to the final second. 196 combined Points, both teams attempted fifty-two 3-pointers (making well over 50%) and all this in just 40 minutes: seems the scoring trend is sweeping the globe.

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Full game video courtesy of @SG.BallersLIFE