Championship

Chris Pacana had played in the Fall 2007 Season (6th season) for the Superstar Basketball League in Southern California (October - December 2007) for the #1 Stunners of the Diamond Division.


PlayOffs
By Ghost Writer
Contributing Writer
DIAMOND DIVISION
Championship Prview

(2) 1 Stunners vs. (4) Foundation

The Stunners are back in the Finals after two seasons while the defending Champions are back in the Finals for the third time in six seasons.

1 Stunners finished the season at 6-2 and have gone through the Playoffs with ease. They've played with a thin bench that had them playing with only 5 players surviving against Bank and Black Out in last week's 1st Round and Semifinals. Terrance Martin has improved his play from last season and was named Most Improved Player of the Season. He led the league in assists dishing out 32 assists while his teammate, Alex "Bear" Ivezaj shared the division-high in blocked shots with 12 blocks this season. The All Superstar First Team power forward has already won a Championship with Money Inc in Gold Division but a Championship in Diamond has eluded him courtesy of the Deacons - a team that eliminated the Stunners in the Semis and in their epic triple OT Championship (Spring 2007).

The Deacons were a dynasty in the making until Foundation reincarnated to Foundation 2.0 courtesy of two-time defensive Player of the Season Matt Lewis. After being eliminated in the 1st Round despite ranking in the Playoffs as a number 2 seed, the power forward vowed to play Championship ball with his friends, OJ Yayboe, "The Kid", and Bone Collector. In the following weeks several records would be broken - OJ Yayboe (assists record - 17 assists), Bone Collector (scoring record), Christian Gopez (three point record, scoring record). The team defeated Ranch Cucamonga's The Problem in the Finals, a team that went undefeated all season until the Finals. Bone Collector was named the Finals MVP after racking up 56 points. The team vowed to defend the throne but after a car accident to Matt Lewis, the team was in doubt whether it could sustain its high level of play.

"Accident came two days before season started. Just bad luck for us, and now my work schedule is on the way," said a disappointed Matt Lewis. The team replaced one injured All Star with another - a former MVP who broke his foot a day before the Championship started (Winter 2007). Derrick DeVan made his return to Superstar Basketball and has made a promise to collect a Championship that he should have earned three seasons ago. The 6'7 forward averaged a division-high 34.7 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 1.7 apg this season.

Stunners GM Mark Pagdilao was visibly upset after being eliminated in the 1st Round last season. "We'll be back, Commish, don't worry bout that." The team added Bear's Gold Division Championship teammate, Kenneth Ubom - a strong power forward who has a legit inside-outside game. He was named Finals MVP in the Gold Division after leading Money Inc. with 28 points and 4 assists. The stellar play continued from last summer to this season ultimately earning him his first Regular Season MVP award. The self-proclaimed boss has his original team, The Association, undefeated and will play in the Finals against Derrick DeVan's Platinum Division team.

"So this weekend is pretty much a Kenneth Ubom vs. Derrick DeVan weekend," joked a league analyst. The two will see each other in today's Championship game and on Sunday in the Platinum Division Championships.

Mark wasn't done with his personnel moves and his key addition included adding PBA player, Chris Pacana. The rookie was playing ball overseas in the Philippines and was regarded as one of the top point guard's in the nation. Mark felt his former teammate would be the missing piece for the Stunners and he finished second in the ballots for Rookie of the Season after posting 2.8 apg, 8.7 ppg. The Stunners finished 3rd in team scoring averaging 76.5 ppg and finished 3rd in assists averaging 10.4 apg. At this point, Mark has already garnered some of the league's top honors and a Championship would solidify his ranking as one of the top point guards in the league: All Star, All Superstar First Team point guard (2007), GM of the Season (Fall 2007).

Foundation averaged 79.6 ppg ranking second in the Diamond Division in scoring. The team's defense visibly suffered after Matt Lewis injury and their three point shooting woes endured after Gopez missed several games due to his busy work schedule. "I have to be there for training for my kids, but I'll be there in the postseason." The former PBL player is looking forward to his match-up against Pacana knowing that his career would have taken off in the Philippines if he had stayed overseas. "You don't have to elaborate on it... but they know who I am."

Both teams have persevered through injury all season. Pagdilao suffered an ankle injury a day before the Playoffs started, an experience DeVan witnessed first-hand as he watched his former team undefeated Mindstate lose in the Finals. (Winter 2007). He's looking to avenge defeat in the Finals the same way Stunners is hoping to finally get theirs. The two-time defending Champs, Hollywood Deacons, have always stood in the way against both teams. "The Kid's" miraculous four point play in the Semis, has the Deacons temporarily out of the postseason and both teams finally have the chance to outshine each other in the big stage.

This special Championship edition will be played on a Friday right before Anaheim Arsenals play against Colorado 14ers. Will anyone get scouted with so many onlookers from NBDL watching? Is this the season Stunners finally claim their Championship? Will DeVan finally complete his Championship season? Will "Bone Collector" make an appearance for Foundation? Is Foundation going back-to-back?

Game time is at 4:30 p.m., Friday, Anaheim Convention Center. Tickets are $15 each.




PlayOffs
By Ghost Writer
Contributing Writer
DIAMOND DIVISION
Championship Recap

(2) 1 Stunners vs. (4) Foundation

The Defending Champs started the Championship Game with a 16-4 run and the allure of playing in a big arena had the sleepy-eyed "The Kid" wide awake from the beginning.

Foundation shooters, "The Kid" and Christian Gopez, were on fire from the get-go as the sharp shooting duo combined for 6 three pointers. Gopez ended the game with 3 three-pointers and 9 points while "The Kid" finished with 23 points. Kid finished the game with two steals and the offensive game was in full effect since two-time Defensive Player of the Season Matt Lewis showed up fashionably late for the game.

Foundation led 46-31at intermission but the eventual 1 Stunners comeback was on the horizon.

"They got off to a slow start, it seemed like they were intimidated, but they'll come back like they always do" said a bystander.

Stunners GM Mark Pagdilao was nursing an injured ankle and was unable to play in the game. The All Superstar First Team point guard tried to play through the pain earlier in the day but was at 50% come game-time. The Stunners came out strong from intermission and the lead was down 50-40 as the two traded bucket for bucket before the final 10 minutes. Rookie guard Chris Pacana led the team with 2 assists and 13 points but was in foul trouble throughout the second half. Most Improved Player Terrance Martin was also in foul trouble but finished with 4 three-pointers, a game-high. Terrance ended the game with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals The options at the 1 spot was low for Stunners an usual scenario since Mark Pagdilao is usually all they need.

"I feel for him... a Championship Game and he's sitting out because of injury?" said a game official. "That ankle must be bad because it's rare he sits out."

All Star Alex "Bear" Ivezaj was limited to 6 points and 7 rebounds and had the difficult task of trying to contain Foundation's Derek DeVan. He took turns with Platinum Division MVP Kenneth Ubom who finished with 34 points and 3 rebounds. At one point, he called for help guarding DeVan in the perimeter and DeVan simply rose up to splash a three on his grill.

"Did you hear when Big Ken asked for help and the moment he blinked another 3 went on the scoreboard?" cracked DeVan. "That had to be on the funniest things I ever did, I'm such a joker..." added the Center. The 6'7 Center finished with 35 points, 16 rebounds and 3 blocks and was named the Finals MVP for the first time.

The Stunners cut the deficit to two points with a minute left, 78-76. Foundation PG OJ Yayboe was clutch hitting 2 free throws and he finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 assists. Gopez had a clutch steal at the end but was visibly upset at himself for missing two straight free throws at the end.

His pupils were on the sideline watching his Championship game and was cheering throughout the 1st quarter when his three pointers were hitting nothing but net. At the end of the game when it came down to free throws, they were out-spoken about how their teacher was missing his free throws.

"He teaches us how to shoot properly but I think we need to show him how to shoot his free throws," joked one of his students.

The Stunners had several opportunities to steal the game away from Foundation but a missed three pointer on a 3-on-1 fast break with 40 seconds left changed momentum for the Stunners. Foundation was 10-for-14 from the charity stripe while the West Covina based Stunners shot 10-for-12. Stunners were called for a foul 17 times while Foundation players were called for 14 fouls.