Some random shots as we head into the final day of the regular season ... some obvious, some not-so-much, some discussed previously, some probably not worth discussing, but anyway, this is what caught my eye when looking through the playoff races and the WL career numbers:
► Owning USA.
APL currently holds a 3-2 edge over USAPL for the season (thanks to Dakar’s three victories over HHW, NJB, and OTR), they can become the first league to claim a season series win over USAPL if Angola can beat Monmouth in their regular season finale. An Angola loss would still make APL the first region to ever split with USAPL during a season in the WL.
► Playing for pride.
The two APL teams, Angola and Dakar, are fighting to hold on to the final playoff spots in each conference. APL is the only region that has yet to see one of their teams qualify for the WL playoffs. If Dakar can get past MPHD, they would earn a WL playoff spot AND become the first APL team to reach 10 career WL wins. Angola has it tougher … they’ll face MEM while Belfast (the team chasing them) will face gutted BFM, Belfast holds the H2H edge over Angola.
► Slippin’.
Drinkin is in danger of dropping from the WL Final Four in Season 11 back to the CPL again in Season 13. They need to beat Cajun and have Dakar lose to MPHD to sneak back into the playoffs and stick around for another WL season.
► 7 Wins and in?
Angola or Belfast could end up qualifying for the Alpha playoffs with a losing record. Interesting and a bit unusual in itself, but especially so when considering it will take at least 9 wins and maybe even 10 to get into the Zeta playoffs.
► Owned by USA.
OPL won’t get another shot at USAPL this season, so their career 0-fer (0-18, the region v. region worst) will carry over to next season where two new OPL reps will get cracks at the USAPL-ers.
► Three-0.
Haliblack (Drygerian) is the first WL team to reach the career 30-win mark. With potentially 5 games remaining, Bonn (29), Three Kingdom (27), Monmouth (27), and Honolulu (27) have shots at getting there this season too.
► Alone.
So Cal will be returning home to OPL when the season wraps up, but should get some mention as the only OPL rep to put up a fight so far. Their 14 career WL wins is 5 more than the combined total for the other 5 OPL teams that have stepped into the WL. Stewart is in a similar boat as their EEPL mates have failed to answer the WL challenge … the Ballers are one of only 8 teams to reach 20 career WL wins while no other EEPL team has got past 5. To a certain extent, Bonn and Three Kingdom have also been the lone bright spots for their home regions, though they have been joined by others in the fight.
► Return flight.
OPL and SEAPL will each be sending 3 teams home after the season. If Drinkin doesn’t advance, CPL will join them with a trio of demotees. Same for WEPL if Belfast falls short. OTR will become the first USAPL team to be demoted from the WL.
► One-and-done.
Just four (maybe five) of the Season 11 WL playoff teams will be demoted (LSP, SoCal, BFM, OTR, and possibly Drinkin ... and the Singapore Marauders are long gone) So, of the 17 WL n00bs for Season 12, only 5 (or 6) will stick. The other 11 or 12 will be sent on their way after a single season at the top. The WL rookies that will stay are: Lincoln, New Jersey, Mayan, Singapore, either Belfast or Angola, and possibly Dakar.
► Two-timers?
Looking at last season’s demotees, many are heading to their Pro league playoffs and eyeing a return to the WL for Season 13. Those that could be among the WL’s first batch of bounce-backs:
Windhoek White Rhinos (APL) 15-0 … current #1 seed
West Wales Warriors (WEPL) 14-1 … current #1 seed.
Stuttgart Blitzkrieg (EEPL) 14-1 … current #1 seed
Doinitin Djibouti (APL) 13-2 … current #2 seed
Nottingham Hoods (OPL) 11-4 … current #2 seed.
Edinburgh Black Knights (WEPL) 12-3 … current #3 seed.
Manila Warlords (SEAPL) 10-5 … current #4 seed.
Stalingrad Gryphon Army (EEPL) 10-5 … current #6 seed.
Nairobi Warthogs (APL) 9-6 … current #7 seed
► Owning USA.
APL currently holds a 3-2 edge over USAPL for the season (thanks to Dakar’s three victories over HHW, NJB, and OTR), they can become the first league to claim a season series win over USAPL if Angola can beat Monmouth in their regular season finale. An Angola loss would still make APL the first region to ever split with USAPL during a season in the WL.
► Playing for pride.
The two APL teams, Angola and Dakar, are fighting to hold on to the final playoff spots in each conference. APL is the only region that has yet to see one of their teams qualify for the WL playoffs. If Dakar can get past MPHD, they would earn a WL playoff spot AND become the first APL team to reach 10 career WL wins. Angola has it tougher … they’ll face MEM while Belfast (the team chasing them) will face gutted BFM, Belfast holds the H2H edge over Angola.
► Slippin’.
Drinkin is in danger of dropping from the WL Final Four in Season 11 back to the CPL again in Season 13. They need to beat Cajun and have Dakar lose to MPHD to sneak back into the playoffs and stick around for another WL season.
► 7 Wins and in?
Angola or Belfast could end up qualifying for the Alpha playoffs with a losing record. Interesting and a bit unusual in itself, but especially so when considering it will take at least 9 wins and maybe even 10 to get into the Zeta playoffs.
► Owned by USA.
OPL won’t get another shot at USAPL this season, so their career 0-fer (0-18, the region v. region worst) will carry over to next season where two new OPL reps will get cracks at the USAPL-ers.
► Three-0.
Haliblack (Drygerian) is the first WL team to reach the career 30-win mark. With potentially 5 games remaining, Bonn (29), Three Kingdom (27), Monmouth (27), and Honolulu (27) have shots at getting there this season too.
► Alone.
So Cal will be returning home to OPL when the season wraps up, but should get some mention as the only OPL rep to put up a fight so far. Their 14 career WL wins is 5 more than the combined total for the other 5 OPL teams that have stepped into the WL. Stewart is in a similar boat as their EEPL mates have failed to answer the WL challenge … the Ballers are one of only 8 teams to reach 20 career WL wins while no other EEPL team has got past 5. To a certain extent, Bonn and Three Kingdom have also been the lone bright spots for their home regions, though they have been joined by others in the fight.
► Return flight.
OPL and SEAPL will each be sending 3 teams home after the season. If Drinkin doesn’t advance, CPL will join them with a trio of demotees. Same for WEPL if Belfast falls short. OTR will become the first USAPL team to be demoted from the WL.
► One-and-done.
Just four (maybe five) of the Season 11 WL playoff teams will be demoted (LSP, SoCal, BFM, OTR, and possibly Drinkin ... and the Singapore Marauders are long gone) So, of the 17 WL n00bs for Season 12, only 5 (or 6) will stick. The other 11 or 12 will be sent on their way after a single season at the top. The WL rookies that will stay are: Lincoln, New Jersey, Mayan, Singapore, either Belfast or Angola, and possibly Dakar.
► Two-timers?
Looking at last season’s demotees, many are heading to their Pro league playoffs and eyeing a return to the WL for Season 13. Those that could be among the WL’s first batch of bounce-backs:
Windhoek White Rhinos (APL) 15-0 … current #1 seed
West Wales Warriors (WEPL) 14-1 … current #1 seed.
Stuttgart Blitzkrieg (EEPL) 14-1 … current #1 seed
Doinitin Djibouti (APL) 13-2 … current #2 seed
Nottingham Hoods (OPL) 11-4 … current #2 seed.
Edinburgh Black Knights (WEPL) 12-3 … current #3 seed.
Manila Warlords (SEAPL) 10-5 … current #4 seed.
Stalingrad Gryphon Army (EEPL) 10-5 … current #6 seed.
Nairobi Warthogs (APL) 9-6 … current #7 seed
