News

PCBL News: Updated 03/28/2008

03-28-2008

CMB upend #4 and #2 seeds on their way to 3-Peat (ctc Pat Riley)...

Well folks it finally happened....it really happened....the CMB proved last night beyond any shadow of a doubt that they are they greatest franchise in PCBL history. Last night the mighty CMB fought two tough playoff teams as they worked their way into the Finals and hoisted the championship trophy on high once again. League MVP, J. Legend had this to say after the semi-final game, "We were really firing on all cylinders tonight. We knew we couldn't overlook Westside in the first game or we'd never get to the Finals for the shot at the 3-Peat (ctc Riles once again.) Our team really gelled out there on the court and our outside shooting and team defense really stepped up." And step up they did.....Led by the hot outside shooting of Jon Martinez who knocked in 16 off the bench and J. Legend, who went 5-6 from the 3pt line on his way to leading all scorers with 25, the CMB rolled up Westside 2 to the tune of 82-50 and cruised their way into their 3rd Finals appearance in as many years.

In other PCBL playoff action, the #2 seeded Mavericks fought tooth and nail right down to the wire with the #3 seeded SAC, led by All-Star center Mike LaFabre. LaFabre led his team with 28pts and 6blks as his boys jumped out to an early 8pt lead in the first half in hopes of extending that lead and looking toward a rematch of last years epic Finals matchup with the CMB, but those hopes would fade into the night like a Vegas call girl on the strip. Led by the hot outside shooting of Pete Sichley, who finished the game with 31pts, the Mavs managed to battled back to take a 2pt lead at the half. Then the Mavs outpaced SAC in the second half and held them off for a 72-68 win and a ticket to their first Finals appearance in team history. "It was really a dream come true for us to knock off SAC and make it to the Finals," Mavs forward Scott Jarnagin said. But that Mavs dream would be short lived.....

In the PCBL 2008 Final the planets all aligned as the #1 and #2 seeds faced off in the Finals for the first time in 4yrs. It appeared that the Mavs would have the upper hand in the game as they jumped out to a 6pt lead with 3 minutes to go in the first half as the CMB appeared to have expended too much energy in the earlier semi-final game and looked to be ripe for the picking. It was apparent that guards J. Legend and Ryan Nysley were out of gas as they sat out the remaining 4min of the first half in a very close game, but that rest would pay off. With Legend and Nysley on the bench the CMB players on the floor rose up and scraped their way back to a 1pt lead at the half as Jon Martinez hit a 14 footer at the buzzer to end the period.

In the second half J. Legend would continue his outside shooting barrage. After some restful minutes on the bench, he came in refreshed and connecting from beyond the arc once again, hitting on all three of his 3pt attempts in the second half to help push the CMB lead to 11 with just under 4 minutes in regulation. J. Legend would go on to lead all CMB scorers once again with 20pts and added 8 assists to boot. The CMB held off the late charge of the Mavs in the end and made crucial free throws down the stretch to close out the game 63-46 and claim their 3rd consecutive title. "We just really played well in both games tonight. It's the mark of a veteran team, when you can get down in a game, but still know in the back of your mind that there is no chance your losing. It really feels good to win it all again," All-Star point guard Billy Martinez said after the championship game.

Well sports fans, that will do it. The PCBL 2008 season has come to a close just like the previous 3 seasons...with the CMB on the championship podium, proving that all is right in the world with truth, justice, and the American way. As we pull the curtain on this fabulous season some lingering questions will rear their heads once again as we head into the summer. Will the CMB have the fortitude to make the run at an unprecedented 4th title? Will the Mavs or SAC revamp their rosters to challenge again for the tile, or will a newcomer prove to be the antidote for CMB dominance? Will 17yr veteran and league MVP J. Legend call this his swan song and finally hang up the jersey?

All these questions and more will all come to fruition in due time my friends. Until then have a great summer, stay clean, stay classy, and remember the 3 Demandments of Hulkamania, training, saying your prayers, and eating your vitamins. For all of us at PCBL News, good day and God bless.

03-21-2008

CMB eat Chalupas once again on eve of Legend's record breaking 7th MVP...

Well Good Friday to you all, welcome back to the PCBL News and our March Madness edition. Last night opened up the tournament with the top 8 seeds advancing to The Dance, each hoping to outlast their opponents on the way to the title. The CMB who had clinched the #1 overall seed in the tournament last week, started the night off taking home some early hardware, as it was announced before the game that 17yr veteran and All-Star guard J. Legend had won the league MVP for a record 7th time and All-Star guard Ryan Nysley won the PCBL Defensive Player of the Year. "I just can't believe at this state in my career I could have pulled this off. It's really a testament to my teammates that allowed me to win this award. It's been a really great year and I just want to dedicate this MVP trophy to my dear friend and forever teammate, G. Murph. It's truly an honor to surpass one of the PCBL greats, thank you." J. Legend said after the game. This MVP win surpasses the previous record (6 - G. Murph/J. Legend) for the number of times the award had been won by a single player. Legend finished the season with averages of 15.0ppg, 10.3rpg, and 6.7apg. It was the first time in his illustrious career that he had averaged double-digit rebounds for a season. He also led the league in 3pt shooting percentage at 66.7% for the 4th time in his career as well. In other award news, Ryan Nysley broke the CMB single season steals record (previously held by C. Fisher, 115 in 2001) with 178 steals on the year. This dual award win for the CMB marked the 7th time in it's team's history that they had both the regular season MVP and the Defensive Player of Year on their roster. If those award wins are any indicator of the eventual PCBL champion to come, let me inform you that in those previous 6 award winning seasons that the CMB won both awards, they also won the title in 3 of the 6 seasons. (1995-96, 1996-97, 1999-00.)

However after the opening round game of the playoffs, league officials may have wanted to take that MVP award back from J. Legend. Although his team cruised to a playoff record and Chalupa-for-the-fans win of 102-42 over the 8th seeded Outreach Sports, J. Legend looked anything but MVP-like out there last night. He had been fighting a sinus infection all week so that may have contributed to his lackluster performance, but his game was off to say the least. "I'm pretty sure it was the after effects of the sinus infection. I'd been battling it for weeks and had just seen the doctor two days prior to the game. I was lethargic and a little weak out there, but that's no excuse for my craptastic play tonight. I didn't step it up for this scrimmage of a game and luckily we didn't need it. Of course if I play like that next week, we'll be going home faster then USC did tonight, but I'm sure I'll bounce back," Legend said. J. Legend finished the game with 4pts on 2-10 shooting and only managed 3 rebounds and 3 assists as the CMB cruised on into the semi-final round.

In other PCBL playoff action, it was #2 Maverick upending #7 IRC to the tune of 67-47. #3 SAC fought a tough-nosed battle with #6 TNT right down to the final minutes, but managed to pull it out 74-63. In the final game of the night, "The Battle of Westside" as they called it, pitted #4 Westside 2 versus #5 Westside 1. Westside 2, the better of the two titans for most of the season, put the hammer down late in the game and drove off WS1 71 to 58. So next week's semi-final matchups will play out like this,

#1 CMB vs. #4 Westside 2

#2 Maverick vs. #3 Sac

Winners will advance to the Finals and the losers will...well...well....let's not kid ourselves here, who really cares right?

Until next week then, enjoy the Madness and as always....stay classy.

01-10-2008

Well it's been a long time coming but we are finally here. The 2008 PCBL season opener concluded last night and it was one for the ages. The PCBL kicked off it's 10th Anniversary Season with all the fanfare of a New York ticker tape parade and the league would not disappoint. The story last night, as it is most nights in the PCBL, was all about the CMB. With only 5 total players suited up and missing two regular starters out with the flu, the CMB were led by 17yr veteran J. Legend once again to glorious victory.

The CMB set more then one record last night, first by shooting 62% from the behind the arc and then 68% as team overall. "You don't see too many shooting nights like that in the league. I think everyone one on the team including some fans maybe hit a 3 tonight," commented point guard Billy Martinez who led all scorers with 33pts including 8 three-pointers. J. Legend who began his hallowed 17th year in the league last night, also put on quite the performance, but not from where you might think. Legend, the perennial all-star and outside scoring threat had to don the center role for the club last night as they were minus two key starters who were out sick. With some uncharacteristically poor shooting, (Legend managed only 14pts on 6-15 shooting, but did manage to hit his only 3pt attempt,) he contributed in other ways. But that would not be the most interesting stat from his box score, moreover it would be his team high and career high rebounding night in which he pulled down 22. "Look I'll admit I was pretty gassed out there tonight, having to play the entire 40min and all, and I just could not find my touch all night. I figured if I couldn't chip in some easy buckets inside I might as well help the team in a different way, cuz that's what leaders do. I just decided to take over on the glass and make my mark that way for the team and it really paid off," J. Legend said after the game. J. Legend's 22 rebounds mark the 3rd highest mark in team history behind Hall-of-Famer G. Murph's team and league record of 31 back in 1996 and his 28 rebounds back in 2000.

What was most impressive about the stellar win by the CMB is that it marked the greatest lopsided victory in PCBL history with a 58pt margin between the two teams as the CMB throttled Salem Evangelical 109-51. One thinks of all those great CMB teams over the years with G. Murph, J.J. Bowden, J. Legend, Gardea, Fisher, etc. and yet they never beat someone like this. "You know Legend is always joking in the locker room before a game sometimes about how were going to go out and beat a team by 50. Well I guess he was finally right," joked CMB forward Jim Guarado after the game.

The CMB will attempt to keep the heat up as they head out on the road next week to face IRC. Until then Chalupas for everyone and here are the other box scores from opening night (winning team in bold.) Good Friday to all and have a great weekend.

Mavericks 55 Team Croatia 61

TNT 37 Outreach Sports 35

CMB 109 SAC 50

Salem Evangelical 51 IRC 44

Mavericks	55	Team Croatia	61
TNT	37	Outreach Sports	35

CMB	109	SAC	50
Salem Evangelical	51	IRC	44