Queens, NY—The Almighty Force Basketball Sunday (and that’s Primetime Sunday according to the Commissioner, Shah Martin) recap is as follows:

Defending Champs “No Excuses” Ousted

The defending champions were ousted on Sunday, by Capital One.  No Excuses had no excuses as they were bested by a hungrier and grittier team, 60 - 56.  Three-point champion and all-star MVP, Donnell Cummings said, “We didn’t get back in transition.  We didn’t play our best team ball, but we’ll be back next year.  The win makes Capital One a prime favorite to take it all.

The early ouster points to why it’s so hard to repeat as champions in the Almighty even though Miller Tyme three-peated a few years back.  No Excuses had to play with a target on its back all season long.  They now know that the only thing harder than getting to the top is staying there.

Time was Almost up for Miller Tyme

Miller Tyme escaped with a double-overtime victory over an out-sized and out-manned Dre Street Ballers.  Despite not having John (Young) Miller and the bad-boy superstar and three-time MVP Rodney Peete, the deepest and most experienced team in the league should have had an easy time of it.  Thanks to the stellar play of their point guard who is a viable candidate for the prestigious MVP honor, Miller Tyme snuck into the first overtime and outlasted a fatigued Dre Street Ballers team in the second overtime.

Miller Tyme had one lost during the regular season and seemed to be destined for a spot in the finals.  After Sunday’s performance, their aura of invincibility has been stripped, and you can expect Capital One and the Pride and the Powerful to make a run at them.

“We were playing against Miller Tyme and the refs,” Coach Tim Grady said.  Three-point specialist of No Excuses, Donnell Cummings, said that he still expects Miller Tyme to take it all.  Maybe they’re feeling the pressure.  Miller Tyme is like the Yankees.  If they don’t win it all, their season is a failure—and they know this to a man.  Expect Miller Tyme to time out if they perform like that against a team with more depth and size.

The Pride Proves to be too Powerful

Led by arguably the best backcourt in the league featuring Lonnell Jones (a.k.a. The Day After Tomorrow) and Derrick (a.k.a. E-Z Pass), the Pride and the Powerful defeated the New York City Superstars 76 – 65.  The score was no indication of how competitive the game was, but the tenacious inside play of JYD and the slashing-to-the-hole play by Jones and Derrick was enough to seal victory for the Pride.

It was a strong showing after a sluggish game on the previous night where the Pride and the Powerful won their first-round playoff game.  They seem to be rounding into shape and have the goods to go all the way—but it won’t be an Easy Pass.