(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 crowdPhoto: 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 »
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!
Miguel “Miles High” Millien hit a teammate with a no look dish for an and one. He altered X-Men shots all night and even drilled multiple 15-footers. The 6-9 high-rising forward is showing he’s more than just a catch and dunk stud, and his all-around play Tuesday at Pro City is the main why Prime Time’s playoff hopes are still alive.
Millien shot 11-for-19, scoring 24 points and grabbing 6 rebounds, as James Ryan’s team defeated the X-Men, 127-121. Read More »
(Monday, July 13th) Undefeated Angie Martinez All-Stars faced off against James Ryan’s Prime Time squad in the first game of the week. It came down to a defensive battle as Anthony “Africa” Pimble was held to takeoff at half-court. Adris “2 Hard 2 Guard” Deleon came out hitting shot after shot and looking like his typical scoring-self. He finished with 22 points as Angie Martinez’s All-Stars held onto an 8-point halftime lead and Read More »
Sundiata Gaines blew past N.I.K.E. 1 defenders all night. Photo: Kevin Couliau.
Sundiata Gaines drilled a three. Then he grabbed a rebound on the other end, pushed it and hit an open teammate for a lay-up. Next, he got to the bucket for an and one. Gaines did almost everything at Pro City Tuesday night, and his 35 point, 8 rebound, 6 assist performance was just another testament to why he should be playing in a different pro league come the end of October.
Gaines, whose biggest weakness has always been free-throw shooting, also connected on 16 of his 18 attempts from the line as Prime Time defeated N.I.K.E. 1, 108-103. Read More »
Defending champion PDG Queensbridge staved off a rally to win Tuesday night.
After a missed-shot and turnover-ridden last summer in which he was heckled relentlessly at Pro City, Memphis Grizzlies guard Marko Jaric seemingly would’ve received a warmer welcome at a Duke game wearing Carolina gear than on 68th Street and Lexington. Yet there walked Jaric onto the court at Hunter College Tuesday night, big smile on his face as if he was a singer performing in front of his home-town fans.
While Jaric was far from looking like an NBA star, the former first-round selection appeared more comfortable than he was last year, scoring 18 points to help lead Dyckman past Prime Time, 111-100.
New Jersey Nets forward Yi Jianlian showed great touch around the basket with both hands and paced Dyckman with 30 points. Donnie McGrath poured in 21. Read More »
Steve Burtt. Jr., seen here after a game at Tri State last summer, led Gold’s Gym to victory. Photo: Sean Couch.
After confusion and conflict, uncertainty and unrest, another summer of Nike Pro City began Thursday night at its same location with the same tournament organizers patrolling the sidelines and the same marquee talent getting after it on the court. The rumors of the tournament no longer being sponsored by Nike: false. The speculation that games wouldn’t be played at Hunter College: false. The talk that there would be no league at all: just that. Arguably the best tournament in the city is back, and if Thursday night’s action was any indication of what this season will hold, we’re in for another great summer at 68th and Lexington. Read More »
Yesterday, June 16th kicked off the first game of the men’s season for the Entertainer’s Basketball Classic (EBC) at Rucker Park. Monday was canceled due to unforeseen rainy weather. For future bad weather, the rain site has been designated as Gauchos Gym in the Bronx as it had been in the past.
Jack Ryan’s Prime Time squad battled Team Cam’ron in the opener of summer 2009 for the EBC. Prime Time came out gunning from the start and built an early lead. Team Cam’ron surprised everybody with Harlem’s talent all on one crew: Alimoe aka the Black Widow, Adrian “A-Butta” Walton, and Kareem “Big Game” Reid! Alimoe’s defense was too much at times and Kareem Reid’s heart on offense pushed his teammates. A-Butta went 3-pointer and jumper from side to side with none other than New Jersey’s own Melvin Creddle. As some people in the crowd announced that his nickname was “The Problem Child,” MC Boobie Smooth denied it and wanted to create a new name for him.
Creddle ended up getting the best of Harlem’s Trio and outlasting Team Cam’ron, 77-71 in a thriller that went down to the 4th quarter to solidify the “W” for team Prime Time who rocked their jerseys from the Fireball Classic. Also for Prime Time, Ryan “Special FX” Williams contributed to the winning effort.
Statistics and photos will be on their way soon enough!
