• Titans Prevail 18U Div.

    May 25, 2015 - The NY Titans and Markham FCCM Shake Hands Post an Action Packed Boys 18U Championship Game.
  • Canton China to Montreal

    May 25, 2015 - Canton United, Men’s 45+ Basketball Team Travels From Canton China to Play.
  • DOUBLE UP

    May 25, 2015 - Toronto CCYAA Captures Two Men’s Divisions Championships, 35+ & 45+.
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sChicago Dragons Masters Wins in Boston

This year, 8 teams entered the 45 & Over Masters division. Saturday’s games were played at the expansive Case Gym. Playing three games in one day on a full NCAA size court was tough for these weekend warriors, and the deeper teams prevailed. Reaching the playoffs with undefeated records would be the Chicago Dragons 45 and the NY Legends. Also advancing were the 2-1 Team Texas 45’s and the 2-1 Toronto CCYAA Masters. Shockingly, both of last year’s finalists- the NY Fishmen and NY Thunder- headed to the Consolation division.

The Semifinals and the Finals came calling on Sunday and slated for the FitRec courts. These weary teams of elderly gentlemen welcomed the sight of shorter courts as they set their sights on the prize ahead. The NY Legends would first meet Team Texas. It was close at first, but the NY guys started to get some separation towards the end of the first half, as they led 18-14 at halftime. In the second half, the basket started to look like the Grand Canyon as everything started falling in. Brad Liu (9 pts) and Beaver Ho (7 pts) led the Legends to an easy 48-25 win. The other Semifinal game was a much tighter affair when the Chicago Dragons 45 squared off with the Toronto CCYAA Masters. The teams came out playing hard as they both felt they had a solid chance to advance. Toronto’s do-it-all Superman Alex Chen (16 pts, 8 rebs) was on a tear, but so was Top 30 player Robert Choy (15 pts, 4-4 ft). Things were neck and neck throughout the first half, with the Dragons hanging on to the slimmest of leads 18-17 at the midway. In the second half, TO’s Eddy Cheung came to life, rattling in 7 of his 9 points. But as the game went further, Chicago had the deeper bench and fresher legs. Toronto had to foul, and was soon into the double bonus. That was all she wrote, as Chicago would move on to the Finals with a 34-27 win.

The Championship game had all the makings of a great matchup. Of course Coach Brenmark’s Chicago Dragons Masters featured Robert Choy, the best player ever to come out of Chicago. Choy would be flanked by Chicken Chan, Douglas Woo, and the Fongs. The Legends starred 2010 MVP Denny Lee, 6-4 F Brad Liu, Danny Chong, and the NACBA’s all-time leading scorer Beaver Ho. On paper, the Legends probably held a slight edge, but the intangible qualities had to go tip the scales ever so slightly in favor of the Dragons, as they were trying to get Gene some hardware. As they lined up for the tap, the Legends suddenly discovered that they would be without Beaver, whose foot injury sustained in the Semis just wouldn’t let him compete at a Championship caliber level. The Legends pushed forward, as this was no time to have a pity party for themselves. It could have gone either way, and it all came down to one final possession with Chicago leading by a deuce.

With time winding down, the Legends had the ball in the hands of NACBA Top 30 player Denny Lee. Lee got it on the left wing and swung the leather in the hands of their go to guy, Brad Liu at the top of the key. Denny got out of the way as the clock ticked under 8 seconds. Liu v/s Choy for all the marbles. This is what it’s all about, where everyone has a chance to be a hero. It would be New York’s best option meeting up with the Dragons’ best player in franchise history. Liu opted to go left but he couldn’t get around Choy, so he decided to go for the win instead of heading to the basket for the tie. As the seconds inevitably headed towards 0:00, Liu figured he would be able to get off a good shot since he had about 4-5 inches on Choy. But Chicago’s Alex Wong stepped up, and knowing the refs weren’t going to call any ticky tack stuff, gave Liu an ever so slight love nudge. It was enough to throw Brad’s concentration off for just a second, and the shot was off. Chicago gathered the Spalding and celebrated the Dragons’ first Championship ever. It has been a long 31 years for tournament founder Gene Lee, but it couldn’t have been sweeter as it was Gene’s favorite group of guys who brought it home to the Windy City. A long overdue congratulations for the Chicago Dragons Masters on their 32-30 Chip!



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