Congratulations to the Jajballers, your 2009 BoF Dodgeball champions. The no. 1 seed dominated the reg. season, waltzing through playoffs to face the no. 2 Flame Throwers in a best-of-15 final, where the Bryan Choi-led Ballers faced their biggest test.
But first, the road to the Chip started earlier in the day as the no. 4 Balls of Fury faced no. 5 Velvet Chrome in a play-in game for a chance to meet no. 1 in the next round. The Fury, led by the cannon-armed Dave Liu, dispatched the recently instated and inexperienced Chrome squad early in just 10 gms, taking the series 8-2. The win vs. the Velveteers would be little preparation for Jaj in the next round.
In the 2 vs. 3 match between the Flame Throwers and Soundtrack, Will Lee's team led early, looking dominant in the early-going.
The purple, however, came storming back winning 3 consecutive games to tie the series at 5-5. The Flamers, however, took over in the clutch winning, 3 of the last 4 and moving confidently into the Championship round.
The purple, however, came storming back winning 3 consecutive games to tie the series at 5-5. The Flamers, however, took over in the clutch winning, 3 of the last 4 and moving confidently into the Championship round.
The Jajballers also looked confident, facing little resistance from the short-handed Fury, for whom they needed only 9 games to eliminate. That confidence, however, seemed to translate into complacency in the Championship as the Flame Throwers shot out of the gate early in the match, leading 2-0, then 4-2. They looked dominant and for the first time all season, the Ballers looked frustrated, even doubtful.
But after trailing the entire first half of the match to the surprisingly upset-minded Flamers, and showing signs of previously unseen frustration, the Ballers regrouped as the Flamers fell apart. Unforced errors proved to be the downfall of the Flame Throwers as deep into 11 games they appeared to have control.
But with their mistakes, the Jajballers capitalized and took over control. They ended it in 14 despite the otherwise impressive Flamers effort. It wasn't pretty but the first Balls of Fury Dodgeball championship ended pretty much as expected, with the league's most dominant team winning it all.
Special thanks go out to Annie Lee and Bernadette Joy-Cruz for some really great photos.
But after trailing the entire first half of the match to the surprisingly upset-minded Flamers, and showing signs of previously unseen frustration, the Ballers regrouped as the Flamers fell apart. Unforced errors proved to be the downfall of the Flame Throwers as deep into 11 games they appeared to have control.
But with their mistakes, the Jajballers capitalized and took over control. They ended it in 14 despite the otherwise impressive Flamers effort. It wasn't pretty but the first Balls of Fury Dodgeball championship ended pretty much as expected, with the league's most dominant team winning it all.
Special thanks go out to Annie Lee and Bernadette Joy-Cruz for some really great photos.
