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10/04/2007 ELITES 2006 Season ReviewWin Loss Position Percentage(%)
10 9 4th 56.97
For Against For/Against Playoffs
556 476 29/25 (Average Per Game) semi finalist
26/03/2007 End of Season Ladder 06/07Season Ladder as of 25/3/07
Team Points Percentage (%)
Kuma Sutra Allstars 46 62.94
DTA 44 69.82
Dump Box Crew 39 55.57
Elites 36 56.97
Slackers 36 51.73
The Ring Ins 35 49.00
Space Cadets 31 47.07
Warriors 31 42.45
The Mcaschfreys 28 41.73
Adonis All Stars 25 33.93
Crash And Burn 24 41.20
How The Playoffs Work
Top 4 teams play each other in Semi Final with the Winner of each Semi Final to advance through to the Grand Final
Semi Final
1) 1st vs 4th
2) 2nd vs 3rd
Grand Final
Winner of (1st vs 4th) vs Winner of (2nd vs 3rd) Elites Season Ends In PainThe elites have gone down by 23 points against a more disciplined and skillful kuma sutra allstar outfit. The result is a painful end to the elites season, which saw them lose their last 2 games of the season as well as the semi final. the match started with the kuma sutra all stars having it their way as they jumped to a 14-3 lead. The game threatened to become a blowout before the elites scored 9 of the next 11 pts to get to within 4 pts (12-16). Unfortunately, this was as close as the elites got as kuma sutra all stars managed to score the next 12 pts without reply to go into half time leading 28-12. To make matters worse, DU sustain an ankle injury late in the first half and was clearly in major discomfort.
The 2nd half saw the kuma sutra all stars extend their lead to 24 pts and before long the sting was completely and truly out of the game. DU tried to come back onto the court but it was clear that his movement on the court was limited and wasnt able to move freely or run at all. Despite this, the elites were able to stay competitive for the rest of the half to ensure the defeat didnt get any heavier than the scoreboard had already suggested. The 23 pt margin equalled their highest losing margin of the season after losing by the same margin to DTA in ths season proper. A painful end it can be said, but once again there was a common trend as the elites simply not being able to contain the opposition when they got a run on them as they allowed the kuma sutra all stars to go on a 18-0 run which ultimately decided the match.
Elites elimination from the finals race also saw Clifford and Anna announce their retirements from the elites team, which is going to make next seasons a very challenging one indeed for the elites and with DU in serious doubt for the start of next season, questions are now being asked as to whether or not the elites can remain competitive.
FINAL SCORE: Team Elites 29 def by Kuma Sutra AllStars 52
23/03/2007 Semi Final Preview - Team Elites VS Kuma Sutra AllStarsSunday 25th March 2007 @ 8pm, Court 1
Regular Season Record - 10-9, 4th
Regular Season Series - Elites won 2-0
1: Elites win by forfeit
2: Elites 40 def Kuma Sutra All Stars 26
Form - The elites form looks shaky as they have once again repeated their late season form slump from last season by only being able to win 2 out of their last 6 matches which saw them just hang on to 4th spot by percentage on the ladder. They go into the finals having loss 2 in a row and dropping 3 of their last 4 games. Its not that the elites have been playing badly, it's how the elites, who in many of these matches, found themselves a good chance of winning the game but then all of a sudden, find themselves switching off for a brief period of time which has seen the elites go scoreless while allowing the opposition to make a run on and take control in that certain period of time. There were many examples during the latter half of the season where there were periods during the game where the elites just switched off. In the game against the
Mcaschfreys - the elites started badly and were down 2-14 in the first 10 mins of the first half before eventually running over the top of their opponents who slowly tired from fatigue.
Space cadets - saw the elites jump out to a 5-0 lead, early the first half before allowing the space cadets to score 11 of the next 13 pts and trailed 7-16 at half time before eventually losing out by 10 pts
Slackers - scores were level at 36-36 with just 6 minutes remaining and with the game in the balance and the elites with possession of the ball, DU calls a timeout to get his chargers refreshed to run out the last 6 minutes of the game. However the elites were only able to muster only 2 pts as the slackers scored 11 of the last 13 pts to effectively end the tight contest
Warriors - the elites were only down 21-23 with just 4 minutes remaining. However a soft foul on kosta saw him foul out of the game and this turn out to be the turning point of the match as the elites didn’t score anymore points after this incident. The warriors scored the last 6 points in the remaining 4 minutes to seal victory.
The ring ins - The elites had led 17-9 early in the first half and 21-18 at half time and looked headed for victory, but the 2nd half saw the elites go scoreless for the first 14 minutes of the 2nd half as the rings went on a 15-0 run which effectively saw the elites down by 12 pts with 6 minutes remaining and this turned out to be a match winning lead for the ring ins as they managed to eventually win by 3 pts despite the elites making a mini revival which went to no avail in the end.
For the elites, making the semi finals is merely confirmation that they have improved as a team, but rather some luck played apart to allow the elites a chance at making the grand final. Medical Room - Good news for the elites, Sam and Richard is a 50/50 chance of making a return to help the elites win their first final, but we wont know for certain until possibly on the day of the finals. DU has a minor blister on his left wrist but shouls still be ok to take his palce in the line up. Wong has become a late withdrwawal due to uni assignment commitments. Verdict - Well this is it. It's now or never for the elites. will their first time end in humiliation or ecstasy. It's hard to say considering the elties, for the majority of the season have been just hanging in there and as a result they have managed to sneak into the finals for the very first time. You have to give the elites enormous credit for making the final four for the first time despite what has happened this season and DU will have his troops believing they can pull off a miracle to make the grand final. The elites havent really been able to show all their cards this season due to injuries and player absences this season which haven't allowed the elties to play to their full potential. The absence of their star player "SAM" due to year 12 has been a huge blow to the elites team balance. Clearly they are a better team with SAM in it. It's going to be a tough one for the elites to win considering the form they are in at the moment and if SAM isnt able to take her place in the finals then its gonna make it a lot tougher for the elites to win, but then again this is a final and as such, anything can happen. DU realised during the season that his team wasn't a high scoring team and wouldn't win anything by trying to outscore other teams - outside TRAN and CLIFFORD, they simply don't have enought fire power. So the elite palyers decided to make a renewed commitment to defence, in such that other teams might score on them, but they would have to work extremely hard to do so. It might be ugly, it might only be for the purists, but it has served them well in some of the games this season, and if they can maintain that effort in the semi finals then they have chance. But realistically, it's a small chance at that. Kuma Sutra All Stars have been terrific over the past couple of months and has been rarely challenged, and unless they suffer an unlikely meltdown, the elites will have to play near-perfect basketball to get even close. Therefore, TRAN and CLIFFORD will need to fire in this game and if neither one of them don't, then it will be a case of another one bites the dust. The only question that remains is, are the elites ready to take the next step or are they just simply there to make up the numbers. Also, can the elites avoid switching off during certain periods of the game because if they do happen to switch off in this crucial finals clash then there will be no way back for the elites. Keep in mind the elites have won both their clashes this season against the kuma sutra all stars but that won't count for nothing if they fail to beat them this Sunday. In the final analysis, the elites will give a good account of themselves, but they rely on too few offensively, and kuma sutra's all star's depth will be too much in the end as they should power away into the grand final and a shot at championship glory. Kuma Sutra All Stars by 8 pts 20/03/2007 Elites Clinch Finals Berth Despite LossThe elites have qualified for their first finals series despite going down by 3 pts to the ring ins in the final game of the season. A win would have all but sealed their place in the finals. However, the loss would see the elites leveled on pts with the slackers who had thrashed the crash and burn team and thus, it was going to come down to percentage and fortunately for the elites, their superior percentage allowed them to stay in the top 4 and have a finals fling.
The 1st half saw the elites jump out to a 17-9 lead with DU having scored the elites first 4 pts of the game in his comeback from injury. DU was in early foul trouble as he committed 3 fouls in the opening half. A solid start from the elites had everyone thinking that the elites had this one in the bag, but the ring ins fought back to score 9 of the next 13 pts, but it was the elites still up by 3 pts at half time.
The 2nd half was nothing short of extraordinary as the ring ins carried the momentum which saw them score 15 unanswered pts in a 14 minute period in the 2nd half which saw the elites down by 12 pts with 6 mins remaining. THe elites had not scored in the 2nd half and with 6 mins remaining it was CLIFFORD who finally broke the drought with a nice lay up which saw the elites instigated a mini revival and closed to within 3 pts with just under 2 mins remaining. The next offensive play from the elites saw KOSTA fouled and had 2 free throws to close the gap to a single pt. Unfortunately he missed both free throws. With just under a minute remaining A defensive stop saw the elites with possession and TRAN taking it down the court. His attempt at a drive and a shot saw him penalised for a charging foul. The ring ins were able to retain possession but with 5 seconds the elites were able to make a stop and had one last shot to tie the game. MEL's shot from half came agonisingly close to snatching a tie for the elites with the ball just hitting the front part of the rim.
Unfortunately, the elites have only themselves to blame for the loss which was due to the bad 2nd half lapse in which they were scoreless for the opening 14 mins of the 2nd half which ultimately proved costly and pretty much decided the outcome of the match. Their mini revival was a lost cause in the end and served only to put some respectability back into the scoreline. The ring ins on the other hand would have to be pleased in the way they finished their season, but unfortunately for them they will not participate in this season's finals series as bad form in the past month allowed the elites to snatch 4th place despite being in the top 4 for the majority of the season. Next week it will be elites to take on the minor premiers "kuma sutra all stars" in the 1st semi final.
FINAL SCORE: Team Elites 31 def by The Ring Ins 34
16/03/2007 Match Preview - Team Elites VS The Ring InsSunday 18th March 2007 @ 930pm, Court 3
Form - the elites have yet to put together a winning streak of greater than 2 games. Their last 7 games after the mid season break has yielded win/win/loss/win/loss/win/loss. The pattern has been no surprise with the elites not being able to have their full squad in action each week. To everyone's surprise, they have managed to sneak into the top 4 with just one game remaining due mainly to the ring ins slipping up.
Medical room - Sam (season/yr 12), Richard (N/A), Wong (F1 Grand Prix), DU will make his long awaited comeback from a wrist injury after 6 months on the sidelines in rehab.
Verdict - How ironic isnt it. For the 2nd time in as many seasons, the elties find themselves having to practically win their last game of the season to clinch a finals berth. The ring ins on the other hand will narrowly miss out regardless if they were to win, but will be looking to ruin the elites finals aspirations and finish the season on a high. Last time these two sides met, it was an evenly fought contest which saw both sides having significant leads during the game before the elites burst the bubble with a devastating 14-0 run to effectively end the game as a contest. History shows that this game should be a close contest with the elites having everything to play for. The only time the ring ins have beaten the elites was early last season which saw both sides play out a thriller with the ring ins getting up thanks to a buzzer beater. If the elite's win/loss pattern this season is something to go by, then the elites should win this match. But rest assure, the ring ins wont just give it to them on a silver platter. Elites by 4 pts.
04/03/2007 Elites Lose A Scrappy AffairThe elites have lost a somewhat scrappy affair by 8 pts who now find themselves in a situation where they have to beat the ring ins in the last game of the season to clinch 4th spot and a place in the finals. The first half was nothing short of scrappy and rusty as both sides failed to make their shots count. Shots were either falling short of the rim or simply just seeing nothing but air. Neither side was able to break away as the match turn into a see sawing match which witness plenty of missed shots and 2nd shot opportunties being wasted. Nevertheless it was the elites by a pt at half time (7-6). The 7 pts scored in the first half is the lowest first half score that the elites have obtained this season.
The 2nd half saw the warriors score 6 of the first 8 pts of the 2nd half to edge out by 3 pts before a KOSTA 3 pt bomb levelled the scores at 12-12. Elites were 19-18 before the warriors responded with the next 5 pts to lead by 4 before the elites trimmed the margin to 2 pts. With about 4 mins remaining, KOSTA is penalised for a soft foul which saw him commit his 5th foul to send him out of the match. This ultimately was the turning point of the match which unfortunately for the elites saw the warriors run away with the game with the last 6 pts of the match. A terrible way to end the match for the elites, who had for most of the match had done well to contain the warriors and keep in the game against a team who had considerable size over the elites. The 21 pts scored was the elites lowest total of the season in a whole game. Their previous lowest was 26 pts which was also against the same team in the warriors and the other team being the dump box crew.
With no game next week due to the adelaide cup, the elites get a week off to recharge their battery in what now is considered a do or die game in the last game of the season. The stakes couldnt be higher as the elites look to clinch a finals berth. There several ifs and buts which must fall the elites have to deal with. If the slackers tonight successfully account for the top team DTA, then the elites will definitely have to beat the ring ins in 2 weeks time to make the finals. If the slackers lose, then the elites should just about be safe due to their superior percentage over the slackiers and provided they dont lose heavily, if a loss was to happen. Therefore, for the 2nd time in as many season, the elites season now hangs in the balance with the last game of the season to ultimately determine their finals fate. In better news for the elites, DU should be available for the last game of the season with the wrist given the all clear by the doctors.
FINAL SCORE: Team Elites 21 def by Warriors 29
27/02/2007 Match Preview - Team Elites VS WarriorsSunday 4th March 2006 @ 545pm, Court 3
Last Time They Met - Team Elites 26 def by Warriors 28
Form - Elites had a week off due to Crash And Burn forfeiting. the past month has yielded them 2 wins and 2 losses.
Medical Room - Sam (Season/yr 12), DU (Wrist/2wks), Richard (N/A)
Verdict - With the final just 3 weeks away, the elites will be looking to sneak into 4th place by winning this match to put more pressure on the ring ins to hang on to 4th spot. . Just a few pts separate the Elites and the ring ins on the ladder and elites superior percentage over the ring ins will also help their cause in the event of elites being tied on pts with the ring ins. However, the elites need to win this week to keep their dream of a top 4 spot alive and well. Last time these two sides met, it was the warriors who got over the line in a thriller. The elites in that game didnt have Clifford, Kosta or Wong playing which saw the elites underman and lacking any tall centres to clean up the rebounds, which saw the warriors expose their lack of height to their advantage and lack of rotations in that game as the elites looked like they were gonna win it after leading by 6 pts midway through the 2nd half in that game, only to be pegged back. However, things will be different this time around as the elites will have Clifford and Kosta and Wong playing which pretty much tips the scales in favour of the elites. A loss could put a severely dent in their finals chances and would most likely see them having to win next week against the ring ins if that scenario was to occur. Nevertheless, with a finals spot at stake here, the elites should be able to claim maximum points against a young warriors side. Elites by 8 pts 21/02/2007 Match Preview - Team Elites VS Crash And BurnSunday 25th February 2007 @ 930pm, Court 1
Last Time They Met - Team Elites 45 Def Crash And Burn 31 [12th November 2006]
Form - Elites have been competitive in the last month winning with their losses only coming against space cadets and the slackers and on those two occasions they werent at full strength due to player absences. Crash And Burn havent been exactly having the greatest of season and as such sit on the bottom of the ladder.
Medical Room - Sam (yr 12/season), DU (Wrist/3wks)
Verdict - This game looms as a must win game for the elites if they are to keep their finals hopes alive. Every game from here on here is pretty much a mini final. With TRAN, Clifford, Anna and Tony back, this pretty much shapes as a one sided contest and even without Sam (who scored 22 pts against crash and burn last time they met) out, the elites should be able to easily get the job done and cruise to an easy victory. Elites by 12 pts
18/02/2007 Elites Brave, Slackers BetterThe Elites despite showing some brave resistance have fallen to the slackers by 9 pts in a high scoring affair. Elites didnt start well with the side down (2-8) with just 5 mins played. From then on, both sides traded baskets which saw a high scoring first half with the elites up by 4 pts at half time. It was clear that the tall timber of the slackers was causing the elites problems and stretching them for height. Kosta was working his backside off for his team as well as 1st gamer PANG who was able to assist Kosta with the offensive and defensive rebounds.
The 2nd half saw the slackers jump out of the blocks with the first 4 points to level the scores. from there on it became a struggle as neither side was able to break away from one another. with 6mins to go and scores level at 35 a piece. DU calls a timeout with the elites having possession at the restart. Unfortunately, it was the slackers who scored 13 of the last 17 pts of the match to run away with the match. A disappointing end to the match for the elites, who for most part of the match was able to just hang in there and keep within striking distance of the slackers.
Unfrotunately skill errors such as the passing under pressure was nothing short of ordinary and turnovers hurt the elites badly as they were pinged for several offences such as travelling and backcourt violation. It was simply a case of the slackers wanting it more by showing desperation when the ball was in dispute on several occasions. Clearly the slackers performance is what you normally see in finals basketball. On the other hand, the elites can take alot of heart away from the way they played and that they didnt allow the game to turn into a blow out. With the finals just 5 weeks away and with 3 games remaining, the elites would probably have to win all their remaining games to guarantee them a spot in the finals. It was obvious tonight that they missed the fire power of TRAN and Clifford who could have made a difference in the final outcome of this match. Next week the elites take on bottom place crash and burn while the slackers take on the mcaschfreys.
FINAL SCORE: Team Elites 39 def by The Slackers 48 4 Elite Players Withdraw, Forcing Makeshift ChangesElites have suffered a major blow with 4 elite players [Anna, Tran, Clifford and Tony] having to withdraw due to other commitments. But the good news is that Richard has become a late inclusion after confirming late today that he will play. Mel's Friend [] will make her debut tonight as well as Josh PANG. His debut couldnt have come at a better time as the elites were severely down on numbers for tonights game. Pang should be able to give the elites some rebounding power both offensively and defensively. DU has also confirmed himself as a starter despite still having a wrist injury which is heavily strapped and cast at the moment. Ideally, if he plays, this would allow some of the elites to rest during the match which will be played in hot and humid conditions due to the 40 degree weather. The elites lineup tonight will be one of the most inexperienced that will be playing tonight thus making the task at hand a little bit tricky and difficult. 16/02/2007 Match Preview - Team Elites VS The SlackersSunday 18th February 2007 @ 845pm, Court 1
Last Time They Met - Team Elites 27 Def by The Slackers 30
Form - Elites have won 3 of their last 4 games. Their only loss came against Space Cadets
Medical Room - DU (wrist injury/1mth), Richard (N/A), Sam (season, yr 12), Wong to return to play
Verdict - Although the elites lossed to the slackers by 3 pts, this was a match where KOSTA, WONG and ANNA didnt play in, which ultimately decided the elites fate even though the match was in the balance for most of the match. In that game, the elites held a 5 pt lead early in the 2nd half in that match and eventually, were unlucky in the end to lose. Therefore, with a near full strength lineup, the elites should not have any excuses to lose this match, now that this time, KOSTA, WONG and Anna will be playing which will allow the elites to play at maximum capacity for the entire match and slowly run down their opponents. Elites by 7 pts. 11/02/2007 Elites Come From Behind To Win By 9 ptsThe elites have won by 9 pts in a match in which saw the elites in trouble early on. With TRAN, TONY and MEL arriving late, DU became a late inclusion to fill the gap. Fortunately for the elites this only lasted a few mins and they were able to get their required players on the court. The Elites were lucky to be only down by 3 pts (0-3). However, despite calling a timeout to regroup, it was the mcaschfreys who came out and dominated the scoring which saw the elites down by 12 pts (2-14) with just over 8 mins to go. The elites were able to regroup to score the last 9 pts to go into half time trailing by only 3 pts (11-14). Unfortunately for the elites, they were penalised 6 pts for having 3 players late on arriving to this match. The elites down by 9 pts at the half (11-20) The 2nd half saw the elites score the first 6 pts of the 2nd half and it was becoming clear that the Mcaschfreys were fatiguing and called a timeout with only 3 mins gone in the 2nd half with the elites still trailing by 3 pts (17-20). The restart saw the Mcaschfreys score to give them some breathing space. However, the elites kept running the floor to create several counter attack fast break opportunities to slowly wear down any resistance that the mcaschfreys had left. This was clearly working, as the elites were able to score the next 8 pts to go head 25-22 with 14 mins remaining. The mcaschfreys used their final timeout to try and stop the elites momentum, but once again this was to no avail as the elites skipped away to a handy 7 pt lead. The mcaschfreys were clearly out on their feet with nothing left in the tank as the elites on several occasion were able to run the floor and create easy basket opportunities. Just when it looked as though the elites were gonna run away with the game, A bad turnover from KOSTA at the elites defensive court saw the mcaschfreys score to stop the elites (12-0) run. Suddenly the momentum shifted slightly back in favour of the Mcaschfreys who were able to cut the margin to 3 pts (29-26) with just over 4 mins remaining in the match. DU calls a timeout to try and milk some time off the clock and allow the elites to regroup. From this, they were able to regroup to score 8 of the last 10 pts of the match to end a closely fought contest which nearly threaten to become a blowout early in the first half. FINAL SCORE: Team Elites 37 def The Mcaschfreys 28 MVP of the match: Peter Clifford with 16 pts & Peter Tran with 15 pts Match Preview - Team Elites VS The McaschfreysSunday 11 February 2007 @ 545pm, Court 3 Form - elites after winning their last 2 games, last wk lost the unlosable by going down to the bottom place space cadets by 10 pts. hot humid conditions inside the centre didnt help their cause due to their lack of player availability for that game with 4 core players not available for various reasons. they did prove to us that they can put together a reasonable score without peter and sam, but too much was left to peter clifford who scored half of the teams total points. Medical Room - formby 50/50 chance to play, bennett (work commitments), sam - season (yr 12 commitments), du (wrist injury), TRAN and TONY to play Verdict - despite losing last week, the elites will be looking to get things back on track and should be able to account for the mcgods easily. the return of peter and tony should bring some spine and balance back into the team and should see the elites put together a winning score. elites by 8 pts. 05/02/2007 Elites Lose By 10 pts In One Of The Boilovers Of The SeasonThe elites have gone by 10 pts in one of the boilovers of the season. The elites who were severely undermanned due to TRAN, SAM, TONY and RICHARD missing in action managed to start well by scoring the first 5 pts of the match before a mid-half lapse saw them allow the space cadets to score 16 of the next 18 pts to go into half time down by 9 (16-7). It was clear that the heat was getting to some of the players due to the hot weather and as such, plenty of subs and timeouts were called to allow players to rest.
The 2nd half saw the elites were able to score 9 of the first 13 pts early in the 2nd half to peg the margin back to 4 pts (20-16). That was as close as the elites got as the space cadets were able to hold the elites at bay each time the elites threaten to close in on the deficit. The elites were clearly exposed on the counter-attack where on several occasion, they werent able to flood back numbers in defence to stop the space cadets from getting easy baskets. This is understandable, considering the elites were fatiguing badly due to the heat and humidity on the courts and due to lack of subs. Clifford was one of the elites best players which saw him play his heart and soul out which saw him play 90% of the game and he contributed half of the teams total pts. He finished the game with 14 pts. Without him, the margin of the loss could have been far worse. This game clearly exposed the elites lack of fitness level required to run out a game of basketball, but at the same time, this has always been an issue which the elites have addressed by ensuring they have plenty of subs on the bench. This game was just one of those games where you just knew that it wasnt going to be the elites day due to several core players missing.
FINAL SCORE: Team Elites 28 def by Space Cadets 38 01/02/2007 Match Preview - Team Elites VS Space CadetsSunday 4th Feb 2007 @ 845 pm, Court 1
Form: the elites have won their last 2 games after the mid season break which included an excellent 14 pt win over the 1st placed kuma sutra all stars which was built on excellent team work. The space cadets on the other hand, had only managed to get over the line against the crash and burn team by the narrowest or margins (46-45).
Medical room - Sam has officially announced she will not be able to take part for the rest of the season due to year 12 commitments. The team wishes her all the best for the year ahead. This absence of sam will no doubt leave the team a little bit weaker in terms of scoring power. TRAN has also confirmed that he wont take part due to exam commitments.
Verdict - A match which can be described as a danger game for the elites with the space cadets now showing any signs of just being a simple push due to their performanace they gave against the crash and burn team. The Elites surely cant lose the unlosable. But at the same time this would allow us to see how the team functions without their two star players. Only once, has both SAM and TRAN not took part in a match and on that occasion, the elites put up a brave fight to only lose by 4 pts against the dump box crew. Therefore, with both SAM and TRAN not playing, the elites should still be able to find enough scoring ammunition to pocket their 3rd win in a row, considering that this is a bottom side team and not the 3rd place dump box crew. The only question will be, can they put together a winning score without their star players? The answer will be provided when the game is on and then over afterwards. Elites by 7 pts 14/01/2007 Season Ladder As Of (8/1/07)Season Ladder as of 8/1/07
Team Points Percentage (%)
Kuma Sutra Allstars 30 59.92
DTA 28 67.66
Dump Box Crew 27 63.98
The Ring Ins 26 57.92
Elites 23 59.44
Slackers 20 50.79
The Mcaschfreys 19 39.69
Warriors 19 34.33
Adonis Allstars 17 39.90
Crash & Burn 15 39.18
Space Cadets* 0 0
* Outstanding Forfeit Fine
Elites Surge To Another Victory As The Game Ends In Bizarre CircumstancesElites have won 2 games in a row for the first time since the start of the season where they won their opening 2 games by defeating the top of the ladder team "kuma sutra all stars" by 14 points. The kuma Sutra All Stars scored the first 4 pts as the game started at full pace as both sides were willing to run the floor and produce numerous fast break opportunities in the first half which also saw some sloppy turnovers committed from both sides. Despite this, neither was able to pull away as both sides slowly resorted to playing a zone defence and pushing numbers back which then saw the game slow down a little bit. With both sides happily trading baskets, It was TRAN who has hot from the field which saw a shootout between TRAN and the #8 kuma sutra all star player. Both players scored 11 of the 13pts that each of their team scored respectively which saw the game in the balance at half time with scores level (13-13).
The 2nd half started off similarly as the kuma sutra all stars scored the first 5 pts to surge to a 5 pt lead early on. Both sides once again traded baskets before DU decided to call a timeout with the Elites down by 3 pts (24-21). What transpired after the timeout was nothing short of total shock and disbelief as the elites ran wild and started hitting shot after shot in a 10 min period which saw them score 19 of the next 21 as the kuma sutra all stars faded badly as they ran out of legs. On 3 occasions the kuma sutra all star players simply stood there in their offensive area of the court and didnt get any players back to stop a fast break and an easy layup resulted from those fast breaks by the elites. To make matters worse for the kuma sutra all stars was that, one of their players who mistakenly took a shot in the elites offensive end which would have saw her score a basket for the elites which would have been very embarassing for the team but fortunately she missed.
The game took a turn as the game took a bizarre end, when with only 3 mins to go, one of the kuma all stars received an accident elbow to the eye from TRAN. The game was called to an abrupt end as the kuma sutra all star player was unable to continue playing. For the 4th time this season the elites have managed to score a total of 40 pts or more in a single game. It was TRAN back to his very best with 15 pts and SAM with 13 pts. The win ensures the elites consolidate their spot in outright 5th which could see them close the gap further on the top 4 teams pending other results today.
FINAL SCORE: Team Elites 40 def Kuma Sutra All Stars 26
MVP of the match: Peter TRAN with 15 pts
12/01/2007 Match Preview - Team Elites VS Kuma Sutra AllStarsSunday 14 January 2007
Last Time They Met: Elites Def Kuma Sutra AllStars by forfeit
Form: An unconvincing win against the adonis all stars which saw the elites pull away late in the 2nd half. Their last 8 matches have yielded just 4 wins at a winning percentage of just 50% with only one of those wins coming against a top 4 side in the ring ins (9pts), while the rest were against crash and burn (14pts), adonis all stars (8pts) and the kuma sutra all stars (forfeit)
Medical Room: Sam and Richard have confirmed they will be certain starters. Kosta set to return after his family getaway last week while DU (wrist injury) wont take part in the match
Verdict: For only the 2nd time this season, the elites have a full strength lineup minus DU. With their star player Sam returning, this should strengthen the side's scoring power that is been definitely missing in the last month. But if the elites put up a performance like they did last week against the adonis all stars then you can count your bottom dollar that the elites will struggle to even offer a genuine contest at all. All in all, the elites despite having a talented squad with a even balance in height, skills and speed, should have no excuses for losing this match. Elites By 7 points. 07/01/2007 Elites Prevail In The Worst Game Of The SeasonElites have won a match, which can be dubbed "the worst match of the season" by 8 pts in a match which saw sloppy skills, skill errors, the game being at times played at a snails pace and some ordinary shooting from both sides. The first half saw both sides unable to score a single basket in the first 5 mins of play. the first half turned out to be a battle of the defences as both sides traded miss shots after miss shots until a 3 pointer from the adonis all stars opened proceedings. It was like both sides just simply going through the motion hoping something will happen. But what happen, was that both sides were still probably recovering from their christmas and new year party which saw both struggling for fitness. The first half could be best summed up as a power struggle as neither side couldnt assert any ascendancy. However, it was the adonis all stars who went into half time 3 pts in front (11-8) and an upset was on the cards.
The 2nd half was pretty much a carbon copy of the first half with both sides just deciding to flood their numbers back to make life hard for their opponents to score. fast breaks were far and few between and when it did arise, players from opposing teams were able to get back quickly to fill the gaps and prevent easy baskets. There werent many highlights to speak of, except for Tony's gradual improvement since debuting in the elites side. His clutch 3 pointer during the 2nd half gave the elites much needed breathing space to allow the elites to skip ahead by 4 pts (23-19) with about 5 mins remaining. Other than that, there werent any standout players to speak of. Most players were playing below their best which eventually translated into the style of match being played. Eventually the elites scored the last 7 pts of the match to get over the line, much to the relief of DU.
The game never reached any great heights and was far from a spectacle. At times it was just bloody awful and painful to watch, considering the elites who were favourites and were expected to come out and easily take care of business, but instead found themselves in a game which can be best described as unattractive, not exciting, at times somewhat funny and jubberish. However, elites could care less as a win is a win regardless if the win was ugly, which keeps their aspiration of a top 4 finish alive. Next week, the elites face a big challenge as they take on the kuma sutra allstars who currently sit in 2nd place, while the adonis all stars take on the 4th place the ring ins team.
FINAL SCORE: Team Elites 27 def A-donis All-Stars 19
MVP of the match: Peter Clifford with 8 pts |
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