SBBL - Season 17 - The Playoff...
With regular season ended yesterday, and Transfer Deadline has passed, SBBL teams now are ready for their playoff rumble. Whampoa All-Stars again have to wait for another season to end their second straight playoff drought, as the result of tight competition of Big 8 Divisions.
Big 8 QF1 - Singapore Showstoppers vs Sessioes Doers
The teams meet again after Tournament Semifinal battle, where SD edged Showstoppers 128-107. Their regular season were 1-1, where each team won at their opponent arena. This time, the game will be hosted by Sessioes Doers as the #1 seed of Big 8. The match will again will display the war of two prized bigman, Noel Lima and Eike Balkhausen. But SD will still a better team depth, even though the Showstoppers has acquired perimeter player Xiong Jiayun.
Edge : Sessioes Doers
Big 8 QF2 - Shohoku Backers vs Eric United
Battle of two most senior SBBL teams. Expect both team will produce an interesting game, as both teams have good enough players to amaze their crowds. Shohoku Backers will begin their quest for their three-peat Championship. They are still with the same squad last season, led by Sertug Acay, Agislios Kostis and Jason Peachey, with additions of two wingman Sebastian Darras and Isaac Nunes. The battle could be tough for Backers, as they might not have Aniol Soler in lineup due to injuries. Eric United new build team is showcasing another Fang Shuang Xiang giant Cedomir Gusic, who expected to dominate Sertug Acay and Jason Peachey, as both seems not yet in their form.
Edge : Shohoku Backers
Great 8 QF1 - Shwe Toe Ngal vs Pekanbaru Jaguars
Everyone when look at this match, they will straightaway pick Jaguars for semifinal match. But it's not as easy as people think. STN, who trashed Whampoa Allstars at their home court, and also were forcing Jaguars to win them by overtime, is taking the league attention of their recent strong play. Their young big three, Nikolas Lepka, Celso Valente and Jakub Ejankowsi are reason of that. Meanwhile Jaguars finally able to have their full team back, as Petrus Alexandersson and Lim Eng Ze are back into the lineup. Their strong play against Fat-A showed they are ready for playoff.
Edge : Pekanbaru Jaguars
Great 8 QF2 - Cheesecake - Fat Alexander
For this match, Fat-A seems to be able to take a breath against cheesecake, which are not the same team as last season. Felipe Massana was out for few weeks, costs Cheesecake some important games without their bigman. Although most of Cheesecake players are ready for playoff, they will be facing the MVP candidate Yeo Tse Hui and his sidekick, Gianpaolo Montecucco. Both players led the SBBL top #1 and #2 in scoring. Cheesecake defense are not much convincing, means if they let Fat-A Dynamic duo dominating the game, it means an easy win for Fat-A.
Edge : Fat Alexander
RL1 - Lycans BB vs Singapore Ballers
Singapore Ballers is going downhill and only have Alvise Gargano to compete. There's no way they can beat the Lycans BB, who has the Singapore best player FSX on their lineup and the Italian bomber Mike Bertero.
Edge : Lycans BB in two games
RL2 - Esplanade Basketball Team vs Crystal Chambers Cavaliers
Another one sided Relegation game. CCC has no more managers on their side, so ESP should won by Walkout.
Edge : Esplanade Basketball Team