N.I.K.E. 1 poses following the victory. Photo: Kevin Couliau.

By Trevor Kapp

After Darren Phillip connected on a jumper with two minutes left in the Pro City championship between N.I.K.E. 1 and PDG Queensbridge, the former Fairfield star ran back on defense with one finger the air. DP was simply pointing out the obvious. After a one-year hiatus, N.I.K.E. 1 was once again #1.

Dean Murray’s team defeated 2008-champion PDG Queensbridge, 134-107, Thursday night, giving the team its fourth Pro City title in five years.

“At the end of the day this is the best tournament in New York City and we’re one of the best teams in the city year in and year out. We wanted this and we got it done,” Phillip said. Read More »

Mookie Thomas connects on a free-throw during the first half.

By Trevor Kapp

“Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” was the perfect choice for music during halftime of the game between #4 N.I.K.E. 1 and #1 Dyckman. It was an old song for an old team with lyrics that couldn’t have captured the moment any better.

There really was no stopping the 37-year-old Junie Sanders, or 32-year-old Darren Phillip or 31-year-old Tyrone Grant as the veteran-led N.I.K.E. 1 held an unfathomable 35-point lead at recess, eventually defeating the younger Dyckman, 119-107. Read More »

By Trevor Kapp

After Andre Barrett hit a teammate with a no look pass that led to a dunk, #2 United Brooklyn coach James Ryan threw his hands in the air in triumph. The flush gave the team, who trailed by 10 at one point, a seven-point lead. But little did the coach know his boys were far from in the clear.

After being down by 12 entering the fourth, the #6 Usual Suspects cut the deficit to just four after Erving Brown drilled a three from the left wing with about 3:35 remaining. Brown then stole the inbounds pass and put in a lay-up to make it a 95-93 game.

With the Usual Suspects leading by three with 20 seconds left, UBK guard Gary Ervin connected on one of two free throws to make the score 104-102. The Suspects then threw away the inbounds pass and James “Stixx” Williams put in a running hook for UBK with about 11 seconds left to tie the game. Read More »

The X-Men defeated PDG Queensbridge in the first game.

As Gold’s Gym center Gordy Malone turned to his team’s bench and shouted, “He can’t guard me. He too little,” in reference to N.I.K.E. 1’s Darren Phillip, DP just stood there with a big smile on his face. Malone’s words might have rattled a youngster, but Primal Fear is too experienced, too shrewd and far too talented. An hour and a half later, he would have the last laugh.

The former Fairfield star drilled a jumper from the left baseline with one minute remaining to give N.I.K.E. 1 a five-point lead and put the game out of reach.

DP finished with 21 points, and Nick Carter and Rob Lewin combined for 44 as the ’07 champs defeated Gold’s Gym, 131-124. Read More »

DP connects on the game-winning free throw as Mookie looks on.

A player crashed into the fence. Another suffered a cut above his right eye. Two others got into a shoving match. The game between heated rivals Diamond and United Brooklyn at West 4th Street Sunday afternoon more resembled a wrestling match than it did a regular season playground game, but the capacity crowd, end-to-end action and no blood, no foul physicality served to remind everyone why we revere this sport so much.

In a game that even saw Darren “Primal Fear” Phillip barking at the officials, United Brooklyn rallied from 18-down to defeat Diamond, 95-93.

The former Fairfield star dropped 19 points and James “Stixx” Williams added 17 to help propel the guys in blue. Read More »