As I said before … this was the series all us basketball fans wanted. The Albany Patroons versus Schenectady’s New York Phoenix. Three game series, winner advances to the next round of the TBL playoffs to claim the TBL championship.
Players on both teams have been in this playoff fight before. Heck, the Phoenix’s Shadell Millinghaus was the TBL playoff MVP in 2019 when he helped Albany claim the TBL championship. But now it’s time to draw the line in the Route 5 Rivalry. The box score is here.
And the Albany Patroons started out with first blood, taking Game 1 of the three-game matchup 115-96 at the Washington Avenue Armory. Three Patroons hit 20+ points in scoring – Philip Flory (26), Denzel Banks (21), and Ja’Quaye James (20), while Zion Styles pulled off a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. For the Phoenix, AJ Mosby led the Schenectady crew with 26 points, while Jaymere Hadden came off the bench to notch 19.
I tell you this … the score didn’t tell the true story. Both teams fought like demons for this win. Nobody backed down, not even in the final moments.
Now it comes to Game 2 in Schenectady Saturday night, where the Patroons are one victory away from the next round, while the Phoenix need to run the table in their building to stave off elimination.
And I’ve got a courtside seat Saturday night for this battle.
Who needs Knicks and Pacers?
This is better. Don’t disagree with me.
Chuck The Writer 
Sounds like when you remove network tv coverage, the glamour of it all, very public post-game trash talk, vying for endorsements, flopping around for nationwide sympathy, daydreaming about which mansion to buy next, and other such distractions, athletes can actually produce an exciting, competitive contest.
Good on them! Enjoy.
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