NCBasketball.net

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