Vancouver, B.C. - The Semifinals of the Vancouver Metro Basketball League™ featured big upsets and amazing comeback victories. Check out the full game recaps below as we prepare ourselves next week for The Finals. For the FULL SEMIFINALS PHOTO ALBUM head to the Vancouver Metro Basketball League™ Facebook Page.
STALLIONS (85) VS AGAVEROS (72)
With the Agaveros defeating the Huskies last week, they earned the chance to try to topple the #1 ranked Stallions for a spot in the finals. Despite just 5 guys, the Agaveros led the Stallions for the first quarter with hot shooting from Oscar and Corey. Without Francisco, Taylor stepped up on boards nabbing 10 on the night. But, as expected the Stallions regained the lead on a bucket from Roger and Jitt collected 15 points to end the first half up by 4. The Agaveros played their best game of the season, but without subs they could not keep up with the fast pace of the Stallions' Daryll and Brody. Luis' defense on Daniel and dominance on the boards (11) pushed the Stallions ahead by 20 with minutes to go. The Agaveros demonstrated their never quit spirit and chipped away at the lead, but couldn't tame the Stallions. JATT will square off with the Stallions for the 'chip next week.
STALLIONS TOP PERFORMERS
Jitt - 19 points, 3 blocks, 8 rebounds
Roger - 16 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
Matt - 13 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Daryll - 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
AGAVEROS TOP PERFORMERS
Corey - 22 points, 1 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Oscar - 21 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
Taylor - 16 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals
In a competitive Division II matchup, Kawhi So SRS and Nothin' But Netflix went head on to decide who would be playing in the semifinals. Nothin' But Netflix came out strong, using their size and ball movement to take the early lead in this game. But before the half, Brandon Beavis and Joel Abad knocked down their own respective 3-pointers, bringing the game to within reach. However, in the second half, Alex Koong picked up right where he left off in the first. He was absolutely unconscious from downtown, drilling 6 3-pointers. Alban Shala made every effort to surge his team back, with a team high 18 points, but it wasn't enough as #9 ranked teamNothin' But Netflix completed the upset, knocking out the #4 ranked team Kawhi So SRS.
KAWHI SO SRS TOP PERFORMER
Alban - 18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
NOTHIN' BUT NETFLIX
Alex - 24 points, 6 3-pointers
SOUTH SLOPE BULLDOGS (43) VS SHAMGODZ (52)
Both teams had a slow start for the 7pm game so it was tough to tell this was a #1 seed against #9. The Bulldogs employed an effective 2-3 zone as ShamGodz only hit two 3s all night. And both teams adeptly picked off passes with four steals each in the first half. Niko hustled on defense to cut off passing lanes in hopes of sparking some quick offensive points, but his 6 steals weren't enough to surpass the ShamGodz big 3 (Alex, Mike, Russell) who were consistently fed by floor general, Cole. Shamgodz get the big upset to slide into the Semifinals.
SHAMGODZ TOP PERFORMERS
Russell: 19 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal
Mike - 15 points, 7 rebounds
SOUTH SLOPE BULLDOGS TOP PERFORMERS
Niko - 16 points, 6 rebounds, 6 steals
Karn - 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals
MANDEM (86) VS All Canadians (82)
All Canadians looked set to take down the #2 seed with big first half scores from Bon (18) and Rusty (11), despite Gurjivan nailing five 3s and Royce popping off 16 points for Mandem in the first half. Royce started to heat up and was unstoppable for another 20 points in the 3rd quarter and took Mandem into the lead. All Canadians put the pressure on Royce to cool off his offence, but Gurjivan continued to hit from 3 and collect nine to finish out the game with the victory and advance to the Semifinal agains the Buddy Guys.
Mandem:
Royce - 40 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assists, 1 steal
Gurjivan - 29 points, 4 rebounds
All Canadians:
Bon - 28 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal
Rusty - 25 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
BUDDY GUYS (76) VS TTP (65)
The definition of competition. This Division II playoff game between the Buddy Guys and TTP was highly anticipated. Both teams were trading baskets in the first half and establishing a defensive presence. The ball movement of TTP was undeniable, with Nedim Muminovic penetrating the defense and finding Kevin Anza on 3 separate occasions behind the arc. He was on fire, going 3 for 3 in the first half. Omid Toussi was also a spark on both defense and offense for TTP. But the Buddy Guys matched TTP's ball movement, and used their speed in transition to take over the second half. Antonio Jhuty led the team from downtown, drilling 7 3-pointers. Sukhman Sandhu had 5 3-pointers of his own, putting the game out of reach, as the #3 ranked Buddy Guys defeated the #6 ranked TTP.
BUDDY GUYS TOP PERFORMER
Antonio - 21 points, 7 3-pointers
Sukhman - 20 points, 10 rebounds, 5 3-pointers
TTP TOP PERFORMERS
Omid Toussi - 27 points, 8 rebounds
Kevin Anza - 11 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals
In a well deserved semifinals matchup, Shamgodz took on Nothin' But Netflix to determine who would go on to The Finals next week. With both teams playing their second game of the night, their fatigue was evident, but that didn't stop them from playing through it and chasing the W. Russell Winters of Shamgodz maintained his offensive consistency, hitting pull-up jumpers and getting to the free-throw line when the team needed a bucket. Nothin' But Netflix just couldn't find that groove they had earlier in the evening, but down by 3 with 40seconds left, Alex Koong found Shannon from behind the arc, who tied the game with a big 3-pointer! But with the clock winding down, Russell put the ball in his hands, creating contact and getting to the free-throw line with 11 seconds remaining. He would go on to sink both free-throws, and they would be the winning baskets as the #9 ranked Shamgodz defeated the #12 ranked Nothin' But Netflix. Shamgodz will go on as the underdog into next week's finals.
SHAMGODZ TOP PERFORMER
Russell - 17 points, 5 rebounds
NOTHIN' BUT NETFLIX TOP PERFORMER
Shannon - 15 points, 2 assists
BUDDY GUYS (86) VS MANDEM (67)
A playoff matchup between #2 and #3 seeds should be one of the highlight games of playoffs, but Royce and Gurjivan couldn't replicate their hot shooting from the previous round. JD, on the other hand, seemed fresh and ready to go on offence and defense with a massive block and a breakaway 3. Buddy Guys would lead by 20 at the half and never look back. Despite some ridiculous 3s from Gurjivan (hitting 6 in the game), JD was joined by Antonio, Sukhman and Ravi with big buckets to take the easy win and direct into the finals.
BUDDY GUYS TOP PERFORMERS
JD - 26 points, 4 rebounds
Sukhman - 14 points, 10 rebounds
Antonio - 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
MANDEM TOP PERFORMERS
Gurjivan - 19 points, 4 rebounds
Royce - 19 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
The Finals are set for both divisions next week! Division I Finals will feature JATT taking on the STALLIONS. And Division II Finals matchup will be SHAMGODZ taking on the BUDDY GUYS. Finals Tip off will be at 7 PM @ Richmond Olympic Oval.
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