Tag: Spring 2016

Spaghetti Ramen are Spring 2016 3rd Division Champions

(1) Guard Me Maybe 53
(2) Spaghetti Ramen 68
Thursday (6/9) 7:30pm @ The King Boxscore
Player of the Game: Leuis Ng (SPR) 27 points, 7 rebounds, 11 assists

Spaghetti Ramen wins back-to-back titles

New York, NY — The last time 3rd Division was in action was during the fall of 2015. And, the champions that emerged from that season was another (G) Leuis Ng-led Spaghetti Ramen team. And in that game, Ng put up a legendary type of performance, his 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists lifting the Ramen past Stinky Tofu in a blowout win.

It seemed darn near impossible to match that performance on Thursday night, but Ng did one better, finishing the Spring 2016 title game with 27 points, 7 rebounds, and 11 assists, while his veteran Ramen team cruised to a 68-53 victory. 

Guard Me Maybe actually shot fairly well, and limited their turnovers, but they just couldn’t keep pace with SPR. (G) Tommy Wong paced the team with 19 pts while (G) Kento Kato gutted this one out, playing with an injured right wrist. Kato actually shot with his left hand all game, making 6-9 FGs and 2-4 FTs for 14 pts. That effort alone was impressive. Slashing GMM (F) Jin Bae Kim also finished with 16 points, but the rest of the team combined for just four.

That wouldn’t be enough to overcome Spaghetti Ramen’s steady barrage of points. SPR shot 51% from the field and never looked like they had any doubt. (F) Teddy Lo continued his strong play in the post-season with 17 points, 8 rebounds, and (F) Mark Hahn posted another balanced performance with a focus on defense. It was textbook Spaghetti Ramen basketball, but there is nothing ordinary about their back-to-back championships. This is a dynasty in progress.

2016-06-10_Leuis_Ng
Championship MVP: SPR (G) Leuis Ng

 

TDL Spring 2016 Championship Preview

(1) GUARD ME MAYBE vs (2) SPAGHETTI RAMEN

Team Analysis Team Score Team Team Analysis
Last night’s win over DYN was big, it meant that Guard Me Maybe, a largely unproved team to this point, showed they could beat a veteran team that largely controlled the game up until the final minutes. Spaghetti Ramen, however, will be no easier. They are deeper, younger than DYN, and carry as much veteran savvy. But all that means is that GMM will have to play with same “no back down” mentality they have had all season. If they can be as patient as they were last night, and keep their composure against what is certainly a more infuriating SPR team than DYN, they can win this.
MWW
6-2

55-54
SPR
5-3		 Par for the course, one of those two storied TDL franchises in last night’s semis, Spaghetti Ramen or NYC Gritty Committee was going to play for the title. You had to know that when the season began. SPR got the better of NGC last night and earned the right to be here. They have the pedigree, they have the tools they need in arguably the best player in this game with (G) Leuis Ng, and the best individual defender in (F) Mark Hahn, and a supporting cast that has seen it all before. And for once, they won’t be playing a team with a huge size advantage. GMM almost feels like the under dog here.
Key Players: (F) Jin Bae Kim, (G) Kento Kato

Kim’s patience last night was key to the GMM’s win. He didn’t force the issue until it was the right time to do so. And his defense late in the game was clutch. If it weren’t for Kato’s hot shooting, GMM might not even had a chance to come back and win. If he keeps it up, they won’t even need (G) Tommy Wong to shake off the rust from his shot.

 Key Players: (G) Leuis Ng, (F) Mark Hahn

It seems too obvious to pick these two but, especially in this title game, against a GMM offense and defense that isn’t quite always on the same page, Ng and Hahn can really put up huge numbers in their respective areas of dominance. If GMM doesn’t have the scouting report on these two, it could feel like a very long night for the Maybes.

TDL Spring 2016 Championship Preview

(1) META WORLD WAR vs (6) GUARD ME MAYBE

Team Analysis Team Score Team Team Analysis
This is where you expected Meta World War to be at this time of the season. By the numbers, they have been every bit as dominant as their first title run, but the difference this season is their lack of depth. This roster really only goes 6 deep. It’s a very good 6, but will GMM’s much longer bench wear out an MWW side that hasn’t always looked in peak physical condition? They didn’t shoot well last night, but (F) Chaz Thomas & (F) Kareem Merrick lifted MWW on their collective shoulders with great defense, and they still won handily. With GMM’s athleticism, they might have another grind on their hands tonight.
MWW
7-1

65-58
GMM
5-3		 If you let Guard Me Maybe hang around, and if you play into their frenetic style, they can beat you. And that’s what DYN found out last night when the Maybes upset them in the semis. This is a team with plenty of talent, they just haven’t always clicked. But oddly enough, despite last night’s ugly game, they did look more cohesive as both an offensive & defensive unit. Everyone played their part and they gutted out a win. If GMM can keep their composure and play with the same kind of team-based attack tonight, they can give themselves a chance to win. The one thing MWW won’t have a marked advantage here is athleticism.
Key Players: (F) Stedford McCleod, (G) Shamel Arasmo

McCleod basically got anywhere he wanted last night, he just couldn’t finish plays. His legs just looked tired and they just might be even more so tonight. Arasmo was the same, FAS defenders couldn’t stay in front, but the help defense was there. GMM’s help D should be even better than FAS, but Arasmo torched them in the reg season.

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 Key Players: (G) Jason Crowell, (F) Darnell Cudjoe

Crowell can be a bit erratic at times, generally playing on emotion, but in last night’s semifinal, he was patient and efficient, and that made all the difference. Cudjoe really does play a Draymond Green role for MWW, he’s their toughest 1-on-1 defender, can knock down open shots and create if he has to. If only GMM had a better pick & roll play.

 

TDL Spring 2016 Playoff Results (Semifinals)

(1) Meta World War 63
(5) Free Agents 49
Wed (6/8) 8:45pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Chaz Thomas (MWW) 17 pts, 3 stl

RECAP: The Free Agents put up a hell of a fight, as they are apt to do. They took the finesse right out of this game and forced Meta World War to grind with them, which frustrated the Metas for three quarters. But in the end, FAS’s lack of depth did them in. Meta was no deeper, but in the 4th qtr, when both teams were tired, MWW’s athleticism took over. The game turned into a battle of muscle memory and instinct, and MWW was a step quicker and a thought faster on every play down the stretch to win this one decisively. MWW forced 23 TOs on 15 stls, including 9 in the final quarter. That’s pretty much impossible to overcome, and proved to be the difference here. Meta World War will return to the title game.
(2) NY Dynasty 50
(6) Guard Me Maybe 52
Wed (6/8) 9:45pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: D. Cudjoe (GMM) 15 pts, 10 reb

RECAP: It seemed like at any moment, the NY Dynasty would get over the hump, but they just never did. Both teams had the length and athleticism to make this one a defensive battle, and that’s exactly what they did. But whereas it seemed like Guard Me Maybe didn’t quite play with enough urgency at times, DYN played with too much. Every time DYN started to make a run, they forced a pass in transition or rushed a shot that let GMM off the hook. They just never looked composed in this game, even missing 6-9 FTs in the 4th qtr. GMM, on the other hand, never let up. Led by another Draymond-esque night from (F) Darnell Cudjoe and efficient shooting from (G) Jason Crowell, they got the result and will play for the spring title tonight. 

TDL Spring 2016 Playoff Results (Semifinals)

(2) Spaghetti Ramen OT 50
(6) NYC Gritty Committee 45
Wed (6/8) 6:45pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Mark Lee (NGC) 32 pts, 5 reb

RECAP: It’s rare that a player from the losing team gets Player of the Game, but that’s how good NYC Gritty (G) Mark Lee was, scoring 32 of his team’s 45 points. But as good as he was individually, Spaghetti Ramen was the better team. SPR weathered the sudden runs NGC needed to stay in this game and force OT. They did it by working the ball and staying patient. Key late-game play-making from (G) Leuis Ng and tough in-traffic finishes from (F) Teddy Lo helped SPR advance back to the championship game to defend their title in what now has to be considered a commonplace team effort for this veteran squad.
(1) Guard Me Maybe 41
(4) NY Dynasty 40
Wed (6/8) 7:45pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Kento Kato (GMM) 20 pts, 5 3FGs

RECAP: NY Dynasty had a game-plan for the much younger, deeper Guard Me Maybe side: slow it down, control the ball, and close in crunch time. They had ran it to a tee with a 34-26 lead going into the 4th, but GMM showed great resilience. (G) Kento Kato‘s big time shooting kept them in it all game, and (F) Jin Bae Kim turned it on in crunch time to make up the deficit, giving GMM the lead. DYN, carrying 3 players over 38 yo on the roster just ran out of gas. But even still, they made key stops in the final minute and had the last shot with a chance to win at the buzzer. (G) Ren Hsieh‘s well-contested scoop in the paint just rimmed out as GMM survives to play in their first title game.

TDL Spring 2016 Playoff Preview (Semifinals)

(2) SPAGHETTI RAMEN vs (6) NYC GRITTY COMMITTEE

Comments Team Score Team Comments
Spaghetti Ramen is one of those teams that to look at them, you wouldn’t think they had won multiple franchise titles. Not until you play them do you realize how good they are. They are committed to initiating their attack on D with (F) Mark Hahn playing an insane Draymond Green meets Ron Artest style defense. Then the offense is carefully orchestrated by veteran SPR (G) Leuis Ng who can do it all. They play small ball, but they have a lot of versatile pieces that work together well. This is a veteran unit.
SPR
4-3

56-54
NGC
3-5		 Whenever NYC Gritty Committee can sneak into the playoffs, they become a threat to challenge for the title due to veteran savvy alone. This team is no exception. This iteration will have the benefit of the biggest player in the league (C) Victor Chia. If they get him going early, SPR may have to make adjustments they don’t like. Which will open things up for NGC (G) Mark Lee. One of the best scorers in the league this season, he has a tough match-up with Hahn, but if SPR needs to go to zone, Lee will have room to work.
Key Player: (F) Mark Hahn
Ng is a constant, but Hahn is a wild card on offense. The dominant defensive effort is always there, but if Hahn can get any kind of offense going, it’s a big release valve for Ng. When Hahn is scoring, SPR is very hard to beat, particularly when he can knock down a few 3FGs.
 Key Player: (F) Steve Chung
Chung is the third piece of NGC’s offensive attack, theoretically the shooter that spreads the D. Only his jumper has been erratic this season. But he’s streaky and can knock down multiple 3s at any point of the game. Likewise for NGC, if Chung gets hot, they’re almost unbeatable.

(1) GUARD ME MAYBE vs (4) NY DYNASTY

Comments Team Score Team Comments
Guard Me Maybe‘s three-pronged offensive attack has been D-3’s most potent this season with (G) Kento Kato able to create off the dribble, (G) Tommy Wong stretching defenses thin with his range, and (F) Jin Bae Kim‘s unstoppable slashing ability. Where they’ve had some weakness is on cohesion on D (not lack of effort). This is a young team, but if they play it right, they’re the favorite to win it all.
GMM
5-2

68-65
DYN
5-3		 In many ways, NY Dynasty is the polar opposite to GMM. They are a veteran team with a short roster and limited offense. Granted, their 1-2 punch of (G) Ren Hsieh and (C) Steve Song is about is good as it gets, but they’re not athletic, and not particularly young. This is a team that plays efficiently, limits possessions, and outsmarts opponents in crunch time. This is not an insurmountable match-up for them.
Key Player: (G) Tommy Wong
When Wong is hitting 3FGs, this is a damn near unstoppable offense. His range and quick trigger just opens up the attacking lanes for the very nimble Kato and Kim. Wong is very capable of taking over the game with his shooting.
 Key Player: (C) Steve Song
The versatile center for DYN can sometimes shy away from taking too many shots, but this may be self preservation as late in games, DYN has repeatedly gone to Song, and he has always answered. As much as Hsieh, he’s a late game closer.

TDL Spring 2016 Playoff Preview (Semifinals)

(1) META WORLD WAR vs (5) FREE AGENTS

Comments Team Score Team Comments
Meta World War won a chip and took a season off, but they haven’t missed a beat. The champs are the prohibitive favorite to win it all again this season. They’ll have to do it with less depth than the first time, but (F) Nick Pelletier has been a great fit with his heady all-around game. (G) Shamel Arasmo is shooting well late into the season, always a good sign for MWW, but the key to MWW’s dominance is the reliable defensive play of (F) Chaz Thomas. 
MWW
6-1

68-60
FAS
4-3		 They may be called the Free Agents but this team has played two full seasons together now, some players have been on the roster for three. With their veteran scoring, and all out hustle play, this is as good a team as any to sneak in and upset MWW. Especially if they’re missing (F) Stedford McCleod, the only glaring mismatch here. FAS can otherwise keep pace with MWW’s offense, the key will be getting the stops when they need them, which hasn’t been easy this season.
Key Player: (F) Stedford McCleod
MWW knows what to expect from its players, and they usually get it, but McCleod has the biggest advantage vs an FAS team that plays small ball. They have no obvious match-up here, and if they’re forced to double, the entire offense will open up for MWW.
 Key Player: (G) Morgan Blakely
Blakely has been playing MVP level ball all season. He is what you call a power guard, bigger than many of the league’s forwards, but he’s as good a shooter and playmaker as anyone in the league. When he gets it going offensively, FAS becomes a very difficult team to stop.

(2) NY DYNASTY vs (6) GUARD ME MAYBE

Comments Team Score Team Comments
The veteran NY Dynasty are slow and steady wins the race pretty much every season, finding a way to get back in the mix. This season, it’s been the return of (F) George O’Garro and the addition of (F) Fred Simpson. Buth give DYN the kind of length on defense that few teams have. For an offense that tends to get stagnant at times, it’s their defense that gives this team a chance to win any game.
DYN
5-2

72-68
GMM
4-3		 This is Guard Me Maybe’s m.o.: they’re a wild card. They have a deep roster, but they never know who’s going to show up, metaphorically speaking, because they’re always rding 8-10 deep. Will it be (G) Landon Glover, (F) Askia Davis or (F) Jason Crowell carrying the load? Maybe they don’t even know, but there’s enough talent on this team to beat anyone if they start clicking.
Key Player: (F) Fred Simpson
With O’Garro on the back line, Simpson can completely take over a game with his defense alone, and much of it is because of how much a surprise it is. He is an assuming player, who often looks injured getting up and down the court, but he’ll sneak up on you every time.
 Key Player: (G) Ian Yu
Yu is the key player for this team, not because of his team-high 20 pts with 5 3FGs last week. He is the de facto PG of this team. When he keeps his TOs down and makes good decisions, his team plays well. When he doesn’t, not so much. It’s been about 50/50 this season.

TDL Spring 2016 Week 9 Results

Teal Curtain (4-3) 35
TX Thunder (3-3) 51
Sun (6/5) 12pm at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Kenneth Van (THU) 13 pts, 9 reb

RECAP: N/A
Dirk Digglers (7-0) 52
Raptors (2-5) 41
Sun (6/5) 1pm at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Andrew Tu (DRK) 15 pts, 8 reb

RECAP: N/A
TAP NY (1-5) 52
TX Thunder (4-3) 66
Sun (6/5) 2pm at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Leuis Ng (THU) 18 pts, 9 reb

RECAP: N/A
Ball So Hard (6-1) 57
Supreme Team (5-2) 35
Sun (6/5) 3pm at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: S. Salar (BSH) 10 pts, 8 reb

RECAP: N/A
Goat Herders (0-7) 58
Gritty FOB City (3-4) 71
Sun (6/5) 3:30pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: David Ri (FOB) 27 pts, 5 3FGs

RECAP: N/A
Flying Fairies (4-2) 54
TAP NY (1-6) 37
Sun (6/5) 4pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Kevin Quach (FLY) 23 pts, 11 reb

RECAP: N/A
Flying Fairies (5-2) 4OT 61
Splappa (4-3) 59
Sun (6/5) 5pm at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Kevin Quach (FLY) 27 pts, 6 reb

RECAP: N/A

TDL Spring 2016 Week 9 Results

Lace’O My Aso (5-2) 73
Space Jam (3-4) 60
Sun (6/5) 11am at Graphics HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: M. Joshy (LMA) 25 pts, 5 3FGs

RECAP: Space Jam competed in a high scoring 1st qtr, but Lace’O My Aso (G) Matthew Joshy hit back-to-back 3FGs in the 2nd qtr that swung the momentum to LMA. Joshy would continue his scoring spree with a game-high 25 pts, and (G) Stanley Yee‘s hot shooting helped put away a short-handed JAM team that could have secured a playoff spot with a win. They’ll have to leave it to tie-breakers now. 
Let It Fly (3-4) 57
SK War Dog (5-2) 75
Sun (6/5) 1:30pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: P. Youreneff (SKW) 19 pts, 6 ast

RECAP: Let It Fly went early to (F) Shawn Bailey, easily the biggest player on the floor, and he had success, keeping LIF tied up at 14-14 going into the 2nd qtr. But that’s when SK War Dog went on one of their signature runs, hitting a flurry of seemingly impossible 3FGs. As the game wore on, LIF did a progressively worse job on finding and closing out on shooters. Not a good recipe for playing War Dog.
Jay’s Angels (3-4) 69
Top Stars (0-7) 62
Sun (6/5) 2:30pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Sal Nasser (JAY) 19 pts, 10 reb

RECAP: Game played as forfeit.
Honey Badgers (5-2) 70
L.O.B. (0-7) 57
Sun (6/5) 4:30pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: S. Salar (HON) 19 pts, 9 reb

RECAP: Game played as forfeit.

TDL Spring 2016 Playoffs Results (1st Round)

(3) Skillshare 37
(6) NYC Gritty Committee 48
Thu (6/2) 7:00pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Mark Lee (NGC) 16 pts, 5 ast

RECAP: It didn’t help that Skillshare (G) Michael Hamane only made it for the 2nd half, SKL didn’t get off to the start they would have liked. But NYC Gritty’s defense deserves credit for forcing SKL into shots they didn’t necessarily want to take, which may have been cause for SKL (G) Elliot Curtis‘ uncharacteristically poor shooting (including 0-5 from the FT line). NGC’s physicality in the paint made easy points hard to find late in the game. SKL did an able job of containing NGC (G) Mark Lee for much of the game, but he when his team needed him most, he took over in the low-post.
(4) NY Dynasty 60
(5) Make BDL Great Again 48
Wed (6/2) 9:00pm at MLK HS Boxscore
Player of the Game: Steve Song (DYN) 23 pts, 10 reb

RECAP: As they had for all the second half of the season, Make BDL Great Again put on yet another gutsy performance. NY Dynasty put (G) Felix Shen on face guard duty on BDL (G) Tran Truong all game, and it was effective, but BDL (G) Chris Chao stepped up with a huge 19 pts. On the other end, though, despite a monster defensive effort from (C) Dan Tak, BDL could not stop (G) Ren Hsieh and (C) Steve Song‘s two-pronged attack. Though Hsieh tired early in the 4th, his team regrouped down the stretch to find the right spots and make the right plays to close out this win and get DYN into the semis.