HIGHLIGHTS - A taste of last season's excitement!

A daunting task awaited the four teams that advanced to the first ever Chaldean Athletic League playoffs, trying to advance to the finals.  As anticipated, the matchups yielded two incredible games.  Incredible they where indeed, all season there were no games that went into overtime, but during this week of the playoff, there was a combined total of three overtime periods, each of which was decided by a last second three pointer.  These playoffs called for warriors to arise, to step up and fight, lead and shoot their teams into contention for the ultimate prize... a chance to play for the Chaldean Athletic League Championship.

10:00 PM Game:
Black (Captain - Nolan Karrumi) vs. White (Captain - Samer Petrous)
This was a hard fought battle from start to finish, as the two teams went toe-to-toe and shot for shot in attempt to come out on top.  As the two teams were going field goal for field goal, the defense was becoming tighter, and the outcome was uncertain.  After going into overtime, Petrous and the White team seemed to be pulling away with a 46-44 lead.  However, in the end, the White team's 0-5 free throw shooting and an amazing 3-point basket by Babi coming off a double screen, in which he also drew a questionable foul on forward, Dave Dally, as the final seconds were ticking away had put the Black team on top and into the finals.

FINAL SCORE: Black (47) vs. White (46)
Most Notable:
White: Was the play of Center Derek Dabish who's consistent low-post play got him 20 points.  Point Guard Brain McKay played with poise and balance as he added 12 points of his own to help carry the load.
Black: The leadership and intesity of Point Guard Captain Nolan Karrumi helped this team out on top with his 17 point showing.  However, one must keep in mind the defensive supporting cast of Marouf, Zoma, Zara, and Yono who help back up the scoring tandem of Karrumi and Babi. who also added 14 points.

11:00 PM Game:
Navy Blue (Captain - Keith Jadi) vs. Red (Captain - Nick Ammouri)
At this point, one team's name has already been etched in to play for the title.  This meant only one spot was left, who would it be?  The never-ending barrage of three pointers by Keith and his Navy Blue team, or the high-percentage field goals of Nick and his Red team... so the story unfolds.  It began as a close game, with the two teams exchanging baskets back and forth.  But at some point between the end of the first half and the middle of the second, the Navy Blue team started pulling away with the help of seven of Keith's nine three pointers bombing away at any hope for a Red team comeback.  But like true combatants, and regardless of the fact that Keith's head was on fire like the old NBA Jam game (when he started screaming, I swear I thought I saw a spark shoot from his ass), the Red team mounted a comeback, they would no go down without a fight.  Toward the end of regulation, Point Guard Nick Ammouri had a chance to tie the game, going to the free throw line, down 67-69, hitting two out of two, sending the game into it's first overtime.  The first OT produced little output from both squads.  The second OT however, was a strategic battle between the two teams which produced even less, leaving both scoreless.  In the third OT the Red team was first to strike, but it wasn't long before the Navy Blue team came back.  In the closing seconds, Center Fadi Gulli, who is normally a guaranteed hit from the free throw ling, missed the first and sunk the second to tie the game at 77.  At this point there were two seconds left on the clock, the ball was inbounded to Clint Shabo, with a delay in the start of the clock, he was able to take two dribbles to the three point line, pump fake Nick and sink a HUGE clutch three pointer to take his team into the finals.  MAN, WHAT A NIGHT!!!

FINAL SCORE: Navy Blue (80) vs. Red (77)
Most Notable:
Red: Nick Ammouri came up big with 26 points, followed by a valiant 25 point effort by Redeil Gamo, and a solid showing from Center Fadi Gulli, who drained 13 of his 20 points in the first half.
Navy Blue: 7 point night for Clint Shabo which included a dramatic three pointer at the buzzer, stellar three point shooting by Shooting Guard Clark Haddad who clocked in 19 points of this own with 15 of them coming by way of 3-point knockout.  Last but not least, Keith Hadi, blew the roof of the whole place with nie three pointers, which came with his 41 point performance.

Hightlights courtesy of EJ