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With 7 weeks gone and 2 games left to the regular season of the Non Chinese Basketball League (NCBL), the battle for a Playoff spot boils even hotter. This year, the top 4 teams will march to the Playoff, and the playoff will be played in a Semifinal format.

Here is the current NCBL Division 1 Standings after 7 weeks:

#1 PEGASUS – 12 points
Played: 6 games (6-0 record)

#2 SWOOSH – 11 points
Played: 6 games (5-1)

#3 PHANTOMS – 12 points
Played: 7 games (5-2 record)

#4 CONS – 9 points
Played: 6 games (3-3 record)

#5 COCORO – 9 points
Played: 6 games (3-3 record)

#6 SCOREKEYS – 8 points
Played: 6 games (2-4 record)

#7 FLAMES – 8 points
Played: 6 games (2-4 record)

#8 PRINZE – 7 points
Played: 6 games (1-5 record)

#9 UBSA – 7 points
Played: 7 games (0-7) record)

3 teams (marked in Blue) have confirmed their spot in the Playoff, but will have to wait for their last 2 games to determine the final standings and their seeding.

So, there is only ONE SPOT left, and these 4 teams are fighting out for the final spot make it to the Playoff. Let’s put their chances under a microscope.

Cons

They look comfortable at forth, and they have the best chance to make it through. All they have to do is win the remaining 2 games, and in my opinion, shouldn’t have any problem doing so – vs Scorekeys this weekend (26 July) and vs Flames (2 August).

Lose any one of these 2 games, and they will throw the door wide open for other Playoff contender to sneak in.

BigBoss’s Prediction – Cons have to be careful in these final 2 games. While Cons shouldn’t have any problems beating Scorekeys & dousing the Flames, but don’t underestimate these 2 teams, especially since they do have an outsider’s chance to make to the Playoff.

Cocoro

Cocoro was a legit contender for the Playoff, and they showed that they were ready to join the BIG 3 early in the season, beating Phantoms in Week 3, and sat atop the league standings after week 3.

Week 5, the sky started to rain for Cocoro. They lost to Swoosh 45-71, beaten by Cons 53-62 in Week 6, and further plummeted in Week 7, this time losing to Flames 41-57.

Currently 5th in the Standings, Cocoro will need Cons to lose at least one game for them to make it to the Playoff. Even then, they have a mountain to climb – win against Pegasus in Week 9. Week 8 shouldn’t be a problem for them, playing vs UBSA, still winless thus far.

BigBoss’s Prediction – They dug too deep a hole for themselves to get out from, and since Pegasus doesn’t be tied up in the #2 vs #3 semifinal match, Pegasus will be going full blast for the W.

Flames & Scorekeys

Simply put, one of these team will go through to the Playoff if both Cocoro and Cons lose their final 2 games, and they win both of their last 2 games.

Flames are playing Prinze in Week 8 & Cons in Week 9, while Scorekeys are playing Cons in Week 8 & Swoosh in Week 9.

BigBoss’s Prediction – Hate to say this but Flames & Scorekeys are out of the Playoff this year. Cocoro is playing UBSA in Week 8, and it should be a breeze for them. Cocoro winning against UBSA officially puts Flames & Scorekeys out of the Playoff this year.

Anyone care to prove me wrong with my prediction this time?.. hehehe

After one week of break to pave way for the Petronas Cup, the Non Chinese Basketball League resumes. However, there were only Division 1 games last Sunday. Here are the results from the Week 7 of Non Chinese Basketball League (NCBL) 2009 action. All games were played on 19 July 2009 in Pusat Rekreasi JKKK Balakong. Numbers in brackets indicate the team’s win-lose record (at the end of Week 7).

DIVISION 1

Division1

With the league taking a one week break for the Petronas Cup in Muar, the Non Chinese Basketball League’s schedule is mashed up. So here’s a heads up to the modified schedule for the remainder of the season.

Sunday, 19 July 2009

Court A
8.00 AM : Flames vs Cocoro
9.15 AM : Cons vs Phantoms
10.30 AM : Swoosh vs UBSA
11.45 AM : Prinze vs Pegasus

Note: Division 2 teams will be enjoying an extra week off as there are no games scheduled for 19 July 2009.

Sunday, 26 July 2009

Court A
8.00 AM : Ying Hong vs Phoenix
9.15 AM : Rebound vs KPTM
10.30 AM : J3 vs Hurricanes
11.45 AM : Arions vs Titans
1.00 PM : Scorekeys vs Cons
2.15 PM : Prinze vs Flames

Court B
8.00 AM : Snipers vs Army
9.15 AM : Swoosh 2 vs Archers
10.30 AM :  Zero vs Froggers
11.45 AM : Griffin vs Benchwarmers
1.00 PM : UBSA vs Cocoro
2.15 PM : Pegasus vs Swoosh

Sunday, 2 August 2009

Court A
8.00 AM : Division 2 Quaterfinals (QF1 – #1 Group A vs #4 Group B)
9.15 AM : Division 2 Quaterfinals (QF2 – #2 Group A vs #3 Group B
10.30 AM : Scorekeys vs Swoosh
11.45 AM : Cocoro vs Pegasus

Court B
8.00 AM : Division 2 Quaterfinals (QF3 – #1 Group B vs #4 Group A)
9.15 AM : Division 2 Quaterfinals (QF4 – #2 Group B vs #3 Group A)
10.30 AM : Cons vs Flames
11.45 AM : Phantoms vs Prinze