EntourageBBall Inc. vs. FastBreak Black 101 – 70
A fixture in the last 4 years of Entourage Basketball Inc’s existence has been consistency. Be it Rosters, strategy, commitment and trust, the club’s two teams have played at a consistently high level since General Manager Dave took over the reigns 4 years ago. This translates into defined roles, fun Basketball and both teams finishing at the top of their league’s more often than not.
The Midweek-squad, two-Time defending FastBreak League Champions, qualified for the third straight league Final by scraping by a feisty, young FastBreak-Orange team in the semifinals. Waiting for the 11-1 regular season leaders was the only team to defeat the champs in 3(!) seasons: FastBreak-Black.
Led by the league Topscorer, Alex Syum, FastBreak Black were hoping to keep the Trophy out of the Green Brigade’s hands, depriving them of a shot at the rare Threepeat title.
Winning the jump ball to tip off the game, EntourageBBall immediately drew first Blood, a contested Three-pointer by Point Guard Javier, and it…was…on.
Playing their best opening quarter of the entire season, the champs clamped down on defense while making nearly every shot they took. FB-Black started in a Zone Defense but the E.B.I. ball-movement destabilised that, and players slid into open areas on the court for easy shots. They fell behind 19:36 by the end of the opening quarter.
One of the club veterans, Terence Goh, chose a great day to have his best game of the season, shooting 5-7 from the arc while playing stifling defense as well.
Normally reliant on Center (and league MVP) Jean Baptiste’s fantastic play this season, everyone on the Finals’ 9-man roster stepped up. From Javi’s steady hand as Ball handler to Chi and Tim’s bursts of energy and shot-making, the guards played under control, barely turning the ball over while always finding the hot hand.
The frontcourt meanwhile massively outplayed their counterparts, dominating the boards by grabbing 20 more rebounds while scoring efficiently. This was highlighted by 45-Year old big man, Gerry, recording his first double-double of the season (10 & 10) AND hitting his only Three-point attempt of the entire season. (rumour has it that was the only 3-pointer of his 8-Year E.B.I. career)
On a night when JB was mired in early foul trouble, messing with his rhythm, newest Midweek-Squad Power Forward, Raf aka ‘Traps’ rose to the challenge of guarding the opposing team’s main guy, Alex and did a great job harassing him allover the court. Raf played a big role in the team-defense that forced Alex to miss 15(!) shots while also having his best offensive game of the season (14 pts, 9 rbds).
All nine E.B.I players scored, five of them in double figures but it is safe to say none more varied and with such ease as the team’s best scoring guard: Terence Tumalip. His team-high 26 points (6-8 from downtown!) all came within the flow of the offense, nothing rushed or panicked. With the team’s other talented shooting guard, Jerel, ineligible for the playoffs, having T.T. on the roster was important as the season progressed.
FastBreak-Black had no answer for the offensive arsenal unleashed upon them in the Final, ultimately losing 70 – 101.
Click for game stats.
On the back of what is easily the most impressive Finals victory yet, E.B.I.-Midweek squad secured the Threepeat: 3 consecutive FastBreak League titles. The fantastic accomplishment would have been impossible to envision by the squad that finished 2-12 in the Spring 2017 FastBreak league.
Amazing what a winning formula, consistency and trust can do.
ENTOURAGE BASKETBALL INC. 