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It’s week 6 of the Remix Non Chinese Basketball League (NCBL) 2008! This game, and next week’s will determine which team will continue their pursuit of lifting the Remix NCBL trophy.

Here are the fixtures & prediction for Week 6 (20 July 2008) games for Group A. Matches will be played in Court B, Pusat Rekreasi JKKK Balakong, Selangor.

10.00 AM – Titans vs Scorekeys

Scorekeys should have no problems overrunning their opponent in this game. Although the Titans are brimming with confidence after their first victory in the tournament, Scorekeys will prove a handful for them.

With quality leadership in Wan Kamal and the experience and talents from the rest of the lineup, Scorekeys should win by at least 15 points (and I’m being conservative here).

My Prediction – Scorekeys win by 15 points, and a good game experience for the Titans.

11.30 AM – Valliers vs Cocoro

Valliers are desperate for a berth in the Quarter Finals, and they need to win the last 2 games to have a wild card chance of making it through (they will need Prinze & UBSA to lose the last 2 games).

This week, Cocoro stands in their way. Although it looks like an easy win for Cocoro in this match, Cocoro will be conserving their strength for a much bigger game this Sunday afternoon – the MB Cup Quarter-Finals which starts at 4.00PM.

While Cocoro may not be lining up their starting 5 for this game, I will predict that the starting 5 will play sparingly to ensure a Cocoro victory and cementing the number 2 seed in Group A for the Remix NCBL Quarter Finals.

My Prediction – Cocoro win by around 10 points.

1.00 PM – Prinze vs UBSA *GAME OF THE WEEK*

This game will determine the final Quarter-Final spot for Group A.

Prinze is sitting pretty at the 4th spot, and UBSA is trailing them by only one point in the standings. A victory for Prinze will cement their spot at 4th spot, while UBSA will need to win this game and the next (against Valliers in Week 7, 27 July 2008). Even if Prinze lose in Week 7 against Cocoro and UBSA wins this game and the Week 7 game, Prinze will still go through based on tie-breaker rule.

Prinze has had a good run in the tournament, and surprising everyone in the process. They have posted victories when they should, and their persistence is giving them a chance to book their first elimination round in the NCBL tournament history, but I think they will fall short against UBSA.

While UBSA is losing an influential leader & player Farid “Orang Tua”, the younger guns of UBSA should be able to carry the load. With Arif “Naruto” as fast as ever, and strong support from their perimeter shooters and consistent front court, UBSA will win this game.

My Prediction – UBSA will win by around 10 points, and make it to the Quarter FInals

2.30 PM – Pegasus vs ATM

There were talks of the Pegasus’s downfall this season before the tournament started. The reason for the rumours – Pegasus lost to ATM in their pre-season warmup game.

While Pegasus captain Azizul “Jijun” quashed the rumours, citing that Pegasus were shorthanded in terms of “manpower” when they had only 6 players in the game, credit still goes to ATM for playing their hearts out for the game.

ATM has had a dismal campaign in their first NCBL tournament, and they will be going all out to repeat their victory against Pegasus. Pegasus meanwhile will make sure that they win this game to keep themselves glued to the no 1 spot in Group A standings.

Pegasus will also be welcoming back their monster center Thaufiq “John” after a 2 game absence.

All in all, Pegasus should have no problem in winning this game, unless if they line up 6 players for the game.

My Prediction – Pegasus wins by 15 points.