VBL '24 Week 4 Recap
Written by Ben Geffner & Natalia Lopez
With a chance at $1,000,000 on the line and a TBT Tournament Qualifier slot up for grabs, Week 4 of the VBL marked another highly competitive – and sunny – weekend of Venice Beach hoops!
CaFirm vs Bred Winners
In an electrifying showdown, the BredWinners narrowly fell to CaFirm with a final score of 71-66. CaFirm came out strong, showing impressive efficiency from the field. Their shooters were in the zone, hitting nothing but net and keeping the scoreboard ticking over. The BredWinners, however, fought back fiercely, dominating the glass and out rebounding CaFirm with sheer determination and hustle. Emotions ran high throughout the game, with tensions boiling over at times. The intensity peaked when Young received a technical foul for mouth fighting, a testament to the fierce competitive spirit both teams brought to the court. Team CaFirm had a standout performance from Greg ( 17 pts, 5 reb, 1 ast, 1 steal), who earned the title of Player of the Game. Greg's relentless energy and pivotal plays kept CaFirm in contention until the final moments.
Nosha vs. The Mecca
There was high-energy in game #2 where Mecca soared to victory over NOSHA with a final score of 63-42. From the opening tip-off to the final buzzer, Mecca's dominance was on full display. The highlight reel of the night belonged to Monstar, aka Marcus Bell, whose electrifying dunks brought the crowd to its feet. Bell's explosive athleticism and rim-rattling slams not only ignited his teammates but also swung the momentum firmly in Mecca's favor. Bell's ( 14 pts, 8 reb, 2 ast) all-around performance throughout the game earned him the well-deserved Player of the Game honors. Mecca's defense was nothing short of spectacular. They played tenaciously, clamping down on NOSHA's offense and holding them to an inefficient day from the field. Every shot was contested, every pass was pressured, and NOSHA struggled to find any rhythm against Mecca's relentless defensive effort. As the final buzzer sounded, Mecca celebrated a well-earned victory.
Underdogs vs. Hoopbus
In an unforgettable showdown, the Underdogs pulled off a thrilling 60-59 comeback victory over Hoopbus, leaving fans in awe. Hoopbus started strong, dominating the first half and building a seemingly insurmountable 18-point lead. Their offense was firing on all cylinders, and it looked like they were on their way to a comfortable win. However, the Underdogs had other plans. Mo ( 15 pts, 8 reb, 2 ast, 1 block, 3 steals) was unstoppable, scoring crucial baskets and leading the charge. Mark Chin's ( 13 pts, 2 ast, 4 steals) defensive effort also played a role in the Underdogs' success. He was a tenacious force, disrupting Hoopbus's offense and forcing numerous turnovers. However, Mo earned Player of the Game for his standout moment that came in the final seconds. With the game on the line and the ball in his hands, Mo was Isolated at the top of the key and drained a game-winning three-pointer, sealing the victory for the Underdogs.
Basketball Junkies vs. New Jersey Sets
The matchup was tight from the tip-off, with both teams trading baskets and maintaining a close score throughout. At the end of the fourth quarter, BBJ held a narrow 60-49 lead, sending the game into the high-stakes Gamebreaker period. NJS came alive in the Gamebreaker, mounting a spirited comeback that had everyone buzzing. Their defense intensified, and their offense found its rhythm, steadily chipping away at BBJ’s lead and making the game intensely competitive. Just when it seemed like NJS might complete their comeback, Zach ( 35 pts, 8 reb, 1 steal) took control for BBJ. With the game on the line, he drove to the basket, powered through contact, and finished an impressive layup, drawing the foul in the process. He then effortlessly sank the free throw, securing the win for BBJ. Zach’s clutch performance in those final moments, earned him a well-deserved Player of the Game. His and-1 play not only sealed the victory but also highlighted his poise under pressure.
Timeless vs. Sole Creators
In a game that had fans on the edge of their seats, Timeless turned a tight contest into a dominant 69-54 victory over Sole. The first half was a back-and-forth battle, ending with Sole holding a narrow 38-35 lead. But it was Timeless who turned up the heat in the second half, leaving their opponents in the dust. Elvin ( 10 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast, 1 block, 1 steal) and Juice ( 17 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast, 1 block, 2 steals) were the dynamic duo of the night, igniting a scoring outbreak that Sole simply couldn't contain. Their relentless offense came in waves, with buckets dropping from all over the court. The highlight of the night came courtesy of Juice, who assisted New ( 6 pts, 3 reb) in delivering an exclamation point alley-oop dunk to seal the win. Despite Sole’s best efforts and a promising start, they couldn’t handle the scoring in bunches from Timeless. At the end of the day, Timeless showed why they are a force to be reckoned with, displaying a blend of athleticism, teamwork, and sheer scoring ability – with a decisive 69-54 comeback victory over Sole, effectively clinching the final berth in the TBT x VBL semifinals.
VBL x TBT Qualifier Tournament: Semifinals & Finals
A wild two semifinal games followed – headlined with a dramatic Underdogs victory over The Mecca in Semifinal Game #1, followed by another clutch win for Timeless in Semifinal Game #2. In the final game of the day, Underdogs got off to an early lead and never looked back – as Mark Chin and Mo led the charge once more, blitzing Timeless with an array of tough buckets to open. Then, Tre Duval took over, carrying his squad with some electric dunks and clutch second-half buckets to seal an eventual Underdogs win, and a confirmed spot and automatic bid in the upcoming TBT $1,000,000 Tournament.
Standings:
VBL Player Leaders by Category:
*All stats are accumulated and averaged between Weeks 1 through 4
Player
Total Points
Points Per Game
Juice (Timeless)
103
25.75 ppg
Zach (BBJ)
78
19.5 ppg
HeziGod (The Mecca)
69
23 ppg
Player
Total Assists
Assists Per Game
Juice (Timeless)
21
5.25 apg
AJ (Mecca)
17
4.25 apg
Sydney Dean (CA Firm)
14
3.5 apg
Player
Total Rebounds
Rebounds Per Game
Zach Hinton (BBJ)
27
6.75 rpg
Amir (Hoopbus)
24
8 rpg
Monstar (Mecca)
23
7.6 rpg
Week 5 Schedule:
Written by: Ben Geffner & Natalia Lopez