The weekly update on current events in the NMAA Fall League from the Commish
Sirat survives Jund, Ar'Rad holds off Haqq, Thundercats remain winless, The Unit keeps on rolling and more
By Omair Zahid POSTED OCTOBER 8TH, 2011
Well Week 5 was a one of a kind week for us at NMAA. There was a tragedy in the family of the Zabardust team (and my own) which caused us to postpone the games for Zabardust and their opponent An-Nur to Week 6. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of Amara Khan from all of us at NMAA.
The games started out pretty good. Jund and Sirat battled really well. Sam Borges followed up his 40 point outing with a 31 point performance, and Sirat played some of it's best basketball of the season. Jund on the other hand fell to 3-3 on the season. Trevor Clayton and Eddie Yiu have been impressive, but this team is better than it's record. I can't imagine this team not making a run for the title, but something's gotta change for them to stop these losses.
How about Haqq? Haqq fell again to Ar'Rad by 2 points making it their 3rd loss this season by 2 points or less. A final 3 point attempt by Mark Scallan was partially blocked and the tip was no good to give Ar'Rad the 60-58 victory. Haqq could easily be 5-1 this season instead of 2-4. The positive out of this is the team is so young that sooner or later it will click and they will become a title contender.
Thundercats could only muster up 5 players in a game I thought they had a chance to get their first win in NMAA. But they were shorthanded and the Greyhounds took the win in an ugly 47-27 game. Looks like we'll have to wait and see if the Thundercats will come back next season and try to get their first win then.
The Unit keeps on rolling. They crushed Ghuraba by 26 points and it's hard seeing who's going to knock them out of the East right now. Ghuraba meanwhile continues to have a miserable season. From making the championship game just a few seasons ago to having barely 5 players show up to their games, not care about winning, and starting fights for no reason, it's become pretty sad. Here's hoping these guys improve next season.
DO or DIE games
Week 6, the final week of the regular season has two do or die games to watch. First up, Haqq vs Zabardust. Ah, this one is a classic. You've got everything you can wish for in this game. First, both teams know each other very well, both teams have played for me in many tournaments, both teams have players related to each other. Both starting point guards are actually first cousins and even live together. (My PG for Haqq is under instruction to drug Omeir Ansari so he misses the game Sunday) The biggest draw for this game, winner makes the playoffs, loser goes home. With the NBA getting ready to cancel the first two weeks of the season, where else are you going to get your basketball fix??? Like TNT, we got drama! Expect a closely fought, trash talk filled game that will go down to the wire. I'm looking forward to this game!
Bruno Abrea of Haqq doesn't care how many guys are in the paint
Ar'Rad vs The Unit. Two of the top teams in the East division are battling for the top seed in the playoffs and the division crown. If The Unit wins, they will claim the first seed. If Ar'Rad wins and An-Nur loses one of their games Sunday, they will claim the top seed. Drama!!! This is almost like the NCAA tournament. I wish we could air both games and cut to each game when something exciting is going on. Then again, while I'm wishing, I wish I had my own basketball gym, Dwight Howard, Stan Van Gundy's job, Mark Cuban's life...yea...
An-Nur has two winnable games, as they play Zabardust in the first game and Thundercats in the second. Two wins will give them the 2nd seed, and the first seed will be theirs if Ar'Rad loses. MVP Daniel Celestine should be revving to go as An-Nur has lost some respect this season after they were drubbed by The Unit and are sitting with a -3 point differential despite being 4-1. It's time for the purple and gold to step up and defend their title.
Games that don't matter
Mujahid should roll over the Greyhounds and finish unbeaten in the season. Do they have what it takes to go all the way this season? Actually, I think the reds do. Dane Thompson is having a MVP type season, and I can see them winning their second title this season.
Sirat vs Ghuraba...if Ghuraba shows up for this game, Sirat should have no trouble. Sirat has already locked up the second seed so this game doesn't do much for them other than pride.
So this is it, 12 teams, 9 teams still alive for the playoffs, comes down to this one final week! Should be some great drama, great basketball, and exciting finishes. I'm looking forward to it, we hope to see everyone out there this Sunday!
