2016 FBA Season/16.01.08/BGR@TAL/Capsule
Last season's rivalry between the Tides and the Typhoons was one reporters around yearned to see any development or closure that surfaced; safe to say that today's game sure satiated their needs.
Between the reknowed threes of Oliver Vance (Swift Fox, G) as well as great defensive plays of the new, hot pickup Rosalie Smoot (American Bison, F/C) and longtime resident Neil LaRocca (Black Cat, C), it all seemed a safe bet that the orange turf was going to start piling the wins in these rough beggining of season. But then the winds changed for some scary unexpected performances.
All damage dealt against the visitors was undone as quick as it was dealt. The crisp passing from Clifford Carlin (Dog, G) to Bangor's own hot pickup Raoul Kidane (Ethiopian Wolf, C) sure made the lack of Typhoon guard power felt deeply as a relatively well sized advantage transformed into a tie in the blink of an eye coming in the last minutes, a swift recovery by rookie Randulf Mackenbach (Wistar Rat, F) of a missed shot sealing the 80-80 tie at the three-quarters of the game. The reported top teams at the beggining of the season had no choice but to risk it all to get this win in the bag.
A flurry of baskets made by visiting star Blanc Mange (White Wolf, F) was halted by an impressive block by rookie Hedvin Eklund (Highland Cattle, C/F), which brought the ball back to the house's possesion. There we saw Amelia Odessa Springer (Goat, F) like never before, managing to repair the damage, giving the nail biting score of 103-105 at the very last minute. No scoring was able to be made on most part of this lifetime-long minute, but it all ended at the 11-second mark, as step-up Nebojša Elkasević (Banded Mongoose, G/F) had nothing but net at the 3 line, so close to the line that there was doubts at first, but the do-or-die basket sure did its worth, giving the home team the nailbiting victory.
These two teams have more in common than you think, given the faith every reporter had on them to dominate, now trying to climb back up to earn said domination. While the FBA can give us its 'duh' moments, there is always one surprise or two, as well as no short of nailbiters like these. Springer, originally a low-profile traded-before-season draftee, walked away as the standout player, becoming one of the talents that everyone must see or, if you are a forward, be scared of this season.
~Z. Donovan