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Islamic-Games Basketball Tournament |
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Thursday, 15 May 2008 |
Come support the Basketballers as they represent the SABL. Other teams such as the Humans have also confirmed that they will be playing in this tournament. You can still register at www.islamic-games.com this is open to EVERYONE so get your teams ready. May 24th, and May 25th are the dates of this tournament. for more details visit www.islamic-games.com. Below is the official invitation.
Only $10 per person for this tournament.
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SABL First and Second Teams are announced |
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Tuesday, 29 April 2008 |
SABL First Team:
C/F - Stanley
C/F - Joe P.
G/F - Abdullah
G/F - Muneeb
G - Shaun
SABL Second Team:
C/F - Simran
C/F - Rex
G/F Khurram
G - Davis
G - Saad
SABL First Defensive team:
C/F - Joe Pena
C/F - Fahad
G/F - Muneeb
G - Saad
G - Shaun
SABL Second Defensive team:
C/F - Stanely
C/F - David
G/F - Khurram
G - Usman
G - Davis
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Saturday, 19 April 2008 |
Basketballers upset the Titans 67-55 to win the South Asian Basketball League Championship.
Bayside - The SABL has come full circle for the newly crowned '08 Champions, the Basketballers. Last season they came two baskets short of winning the title, but this second time around, they would not be denied. From the opening tip, you could sense that the 'Ballers simply wanted it more. Their crowd was loud and numerous and their play was just as emphatic. They found one another on penetration and dishes all game long. Their speed and tenacity could not be matched by the Titans. Even loose balls seemed to gravitate to the players in the orange jerseys.
The Titans looked flat, but the hot shooting from Tomy kept them afloat for much of the game. When the 'Ballers tightened up on him, the Titans offense screeched to a halt in the 2nd half. Stanley and crew tried to battle back late, cutting it to 7 with two minutes left and with the 'Ballers missing an incredible amount of free-throws, the door was left open for a comeback. However, the Titans were unable to take advantage as they let a few loose balls slip through their fingers. Credit the Titans for getting this far, though, because last season they made it to the semis and this was a step forward for this young team.
MVP honors went to #3 Sajeel of the 'Ballers who had a terrific all-around game with 12 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals. He created numerous opportunities for his teammates by getting into the paint. Nadeem and Usman also had great all-around efforts for the 'Ballers. Talha, Zeeshan, Naveed, Omair, and almost every other 'Baller were able to contribute in some meaningful way toward the victory. Kudos, 'Ballers!
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Thursday, 17 April 2008 |
April 18th, 2008
BaySide High School
7:45pm
Titans
vs
Basketballers
Followed by the distribution of the awards and trophies.
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Tuesday, 15 April 2008 |
Clash of the Titans
by Rick Buford
On Friday April 18, 2008, the two remaining survivors of an exciting SABL season will face off for the right to be called "Season II Champions". The match-up comes as no surprise to early-season analysts who had the Basketballers perched atop the power rankings to start things off with the Titans right below them.
What may raise a few eyebrows, however, is how these two teams were able to pick themselves up and wake up from their late season malaise in time for playoff runs. Both squads were all but counted out after suffering repeated defeats at the hands of rival contenders like the Triple Threat, HUMANS, and Spartans. The heart of a champion, as they say, should never be underestimated.
The 'Ballers are all too familiar with the bright lights and pressures of finals action, as they come off an '06/'07 SABL campaign finishing in 2nd after being handed a close loss in the finals against the Hit-men. Speaking to members of the team after the loss, you could just feel the disappointment's in their words as they tried to remain modest. The bitter sting of those kinds of losses is sometimes the only motivation needed to get back there again and make things right.
Unsatisfied and coming away without Hardware, Nadeem and the 'Ballers didn't rest on their laurels during the off-season. They made room for their "glue" guy, Usman Ghumman, who hasn't disappointed with his seemingly unlimited amount of energy. Usman has also brought additional leadership, defense, and rebounding to a team that was hardly lacking in those areas. The other key addition has been SG Sajeel, whose ability to score in a hurry and cover the perimeter has provided the 'Ballers with even more depth.
Nadeem seems to have snapped out of his 2nd half "funk" and his shots are finally starting to drop again. Talha's inconsistency in the paint has been worrisome, but it's interesting to note that the 'Ballers are near-unbeatable when plastic-man sniffs double-double territory. Team defense, rebounding, and unselfish play has bought the 'Ballers another trip to the finals, but offensive droughts and a lack of true size down-low against dominant big men could send them home empty handed yet again.
Enter Stanley, the mightiest Titan of them all. Stanley has been one of the most dominant forces in the paint all season long and is a big reason Titans finished the season in 2nd place and find themselves one win away from the cup. Credit Pawan for recognizing the signing Stanley in the off-season to address the team's biggest need from last season: Size. He didn't stop there, though, as Titans' also added the muscle of Juby, Semal, and Tomy to transform what was once a perimeter-oriented guard-heavy team into arguably the biggest team in the SABL.
In the back-court, Pawan and Jason have proven to be 3-point specialists and Sepan is as scrappy as they come, but the real motor on the perimeter has been Raman "Hollywood" Kohli. He gets to the line with consistency and finds ways to finish around the rim on his numerous forays into the paint every game.
Like the 'Ballers, the Titans are a strong rebounding team and they force opponents into a league-leading number of turnovers. The Titans are usually the aggressors, but have been noticeably passive in all their losses this season. They've had trouble with speedy guards and high-pressured defenses on several occasions.
This much is clear: both teams want it though only one team can get it. 'Baller nation will be out in full force once again and the home-court atmosphere that results could tip the scales in their favor. On the other hand, dating back from last season's playoffs, Pawan has proven to be a master strategist in big games, almost always finding a way to get his guys to overachieve. He may have been away on his honeymoon for the past two weeks, but don't be surprised if he found some time on the beach to devise a 'Baller-beating game-plan.
See you in Bayside.
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Monday, 14 April 2008 |
The Road to the finals for the Titans
Titans defeat SWAT (Friday Night)
The Titans came in on Friday night going up against the SWAT team. This was the same SWAT team that had thoroughly beaten the Titans in the last meeting of the season.
SWAT came out with the same game plan as the week before and that probably is what undid them, as the Titans who were much more prepared sliced and diced their way through the traps and were able to dominate the paint. Stanley especially was a monster grabbing rebound after rebound and getting many and 1's in the paint. The combination of Juby and Stanley opened up the lane for Raman who drove in to the lane with out fear.
On the SWAT side Mohammad Bari had an amazing game taking it to the Titans bigs with no fear, but Davis Samuel picked up 2 quick fouls within the first few minutes of the game and was taken out of his game. SWAT made some runs to pull within 3 points but ultimately the Titans controlled this game from start to finish to win this game easily.
Titans defeat Money Crew
Titans came out against a weary Money Crew. The Titans went to work immediately inside, with Stanley going up for lay up after lay up. The Money Crew looked weary after giving everything that they had against the HUMANS just two nights before. Fatigue and injuries undid the Money Crew as the Ttians just ran away with this game going up by as much as 18 points before the Money Crew was able to cut it to 14. The Titans controlled this game from start to finish and watching the Money Crew shoot a few air balls it showed the rest of the league that the tired legs of the Money Crew were just too much for them to compete against the Titans. The Titans looked similar to the way they looked in the beginning of the season, they dominated the game from start to finish with great outside shooting that was set up by the domination of Stanley and Juby on the inside.
Basketballers road to the Championship
Basketballers defeated the Spartans by 3 points when the Spartans couldn't get the final shot off and the Ballers held on by 3 points.
Basketballers defeat Triple Threat
One of the most eagerly anticipated match ups of the SABL season found #1 Triple Threat going up against the #3 Basketballers. The Basketballers had Baller Nation out in full force. Triple Threat not to be out done had their own section of Triple Threat fans who although didn't have the same numbers, made up for it in their zeal.
The Stage was set with both teams going back and forth the Ballers jumping to an early lead, Triple Threat chipping away and then taking the lead back. One one sequence Arif went to the lane only to get fouled hard on the lay up. That wasn't dirty that was just a playoff foul said referee Amir. But the Basketballesr were sending a message to Triple Threat and that message was we are not intimidated. Triple Threat heard that message loud and clear and Arfan Arif blocked a Talha Ghumman shot that even Dikembe Mutombo would have been proud of, and the subsequent primal scream that Arfan let loose let the entire Baller Nation know that Triple Threat will remain the aggressor in this game.
Basketballers made it a point to double team All Star Abdullah AbdurRahman any time he touched the ball, forcing him to pass to his teammates for open jump shots and floaters in the lane. Many of those were missed and rebounded by All Star Joe Pena but others found themselves in the hands of All Star Usman Ghumman and his brother Talha. The Ghumman brothers kept banging against Joe and Arfan and for the most part were able to control the glass.
With the crowd screaming Defense and the other side screaming Triple Threat, you had to wonder if anyone could communicate on the court. Big free throws were missed on both sides. The Ballers near the end of the second half began to put more and more pressure on Triple Threat and a few costly turnovers were converted and began to send Baller Nation in to a frenzy.
Triple Threat regrouped and was able to get some open three point shots but it wasn't meant to be as the shots weren't falling and the Basketballers were rebounding the misses and hitting the free throws.
Ultimately Triple Threat knew that it was over and Baller Nation went in to a frenzy, next up was the Titans.
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