2009 Finals MVP: Yatta Gaines Photo: Casey Lee

2009 EBC Champions: Prime Time Photo: Casey Lee

(Monday, August 17th) There was standing room only, and the park was filled to capacity for the Entertainers Basketball Classic (EBC) 2009 Men’s Unlimited Championship. Jadakiss was in attendance to watch his crew, Team 914, with half of Westchester County!

Packed crowd Photo: Casey Lee

Coaches also were found everyone–Rah (Sean Bell All-Stars), Dee (Team Cam’ron), and even [Queens] Cardozo HS own Ron Naclerio–to peep Team 914 and Prime Time battle for first place and bragging rights.

Ron Naclerio (left) talking with James Ryan (right) Photo: Casey Lee

The first half was filled with defensive intensity. Both teams went back and forth as the score was tied up at halftime, leaving a question mark as to who would dominate the second half. Read More »

Photo: Casey Lee

James Ryan’s Prime Time has battled to the EBC Finals 2009 by defeating top seeded in their division Angie Martinez, 91-80 thanks to patience and a supporting cast of players, while Coach Sean Oliver’s Team 914 survived a triple-overtime thriller against Hustle Hard (aka Brooklyn’s X-Men) and a close ten point victory over Coach Rah’s Sean Bell All-Stars at Gauchos Gym in the Bronx.

Photo: Casey Lee

Both teams had contrasting seasons as Team 914 claimed the best record in the regular season compared to Prime Time’s sub-.500 record. Miguel “Miles High” Milien and Yatta Gaines lead the way for Prime Time versus a stacked Team 914 with Torey “Stix” Thomas, Aaron “The Problem” Williams, former Providence guard Donnie McGrath, and St. John’s alum big man Kyle Cuffe to name a few.

Photo: Casey Lee

So, who take the chip tonight at 8:00pm tonight? The patient team with role players or the squad that rolls deep? It should be exciting as both sides play hard-nosed defense in addition to high-energy offense.

Get your seat early as security will be tight and seats will be limited!

Photo: Casey Lee

(Monday, August 10th) They call him the “Don Corleone of Streetball.” In a match-up of veteran coaches, Bingo and his All-Stars battled James Ryan’s Prime Time in the first game of the playoffs for the Entertainer’s Basketball Classic for the summer of 2009. The score was neck and neck with each team exchanging leads throughout the first half. By halftime, the numbers did not lie: 44 even. Antawn “Anti-Freeze” Dobie and Yatta Gaines were going at each other in a duel. Both could not be stopped! Anti-Freeze relentlessly drove the lane and Yatta was Read More »

This week starts the playoffs so come to the park and grab a seat because these teams will be going full force! Also, if you have not watched a youth game, the kids are definitely on their way to becoming the next generation of ballers. Check them out before the men’s games if you can:

Monday, August 10th Read More »

Photo: Casey Lee

(Wednesday, August 5th) AH-HAA! Rapper Jadakiss, who hails from Yonkers, NY, was in the park to support his squad – Team 914 – as they squared off in the night cap against the defending EBC champions – Sean Bell All-Stars in a game taped on MSG-TV with a packed crowd. Team 914 jumped out the gate and Read More »

This week wraps up the last week (8) of the regular season for the Entertainer’s Basketball Classic (EBC) at Rucker Park this 2009 summer season. Playoffs begin next week (9) for youth, women, and men’s unlimited leagues. EBC America runs from next week until August 22nd (approximately).

WEEK 8: ======== Read More »

Photo: Casey Lee

(Monday, July 27th) R&B singer / dancer / entertainer Chris Brown made his first summer 2009 appearance at the Entertainer’s Basketball Classic (EBC) at Rucker Park in Harlem, NY with a performance on the court that awed fans beyond his musical talents. Read More »