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 »

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 »

Steve Burtt Jr. scored 29 points to lead Gold’s Gym.

It might’ve been the Q.B. fan screaming, “You ain’t that nice. You gon’ get it tonight,” as loud as he could at NBA guard Mike James. It could’ve been watching brothers Mike and Anthony Glover talk trash as they played on opposite teams. Or maybe it was Keon Lawrence getting a nasty cut above his right eye and returning just moments later.

I don’t know what exactly caused me to get goosebumps at Pro City Thursday night. But the environment during the first half of the match up between unbeatens PDG Queensbridge and Gold’s Gym was as electric as any I’ve experienced in my two years at Bounce.

With the weight of Brooklyn on its shoulders, Gold’s Gym knocked off the defending champs, 113-108. Read More »