Sorry for such a delay in doing these rankings all. As i said in an earlier post i've been just swamped lately... bunch of family in town now too... but i'll post something quick right now to wet your whistles.
1) Louisiana Screaming Pelicans (8-0)- These guys came up from AAA and have been cleaning house since they've been here. A down to the wire 1-pt victory over Krak last week really solidifies their spot at the top. They've also gotten past last year's #1 regular season seed, Taiwan, with relative ease. These guys will be tough to top come playoff time.
2) Taiwan Blood Pandas (7-1)- Their sole loss came at the hands of the #1 team in the conference. They still have some tough matchups ahead, with only Krak and LSP behind them. Hong Kong Highlanders and NACJAC loom on the horizon, with smooth sailing for the most part until the Hustlers week 14 and a regular season finale with HCMHM. These guys will be in the playoffs, most likely with a home game.
3) Krakatoan Red Warriors (6-2)- The island dwellers stay strong at #3, with their only losses against the top two teams in Garuda. Their solid victory over HCMHM brings the rivalry series to 3-5 (i think) with advantage ho's. Krak has yet to beat Ho Chi in the playoffs, a ghost they will need to excise if they hope to advance this year. They have convincing victories over the Tweets and the Mamas, and a very hard fought win against a strong Hustler team. They have a wicked 4 game stretch starting week after next, with the Warlords, Bats, Highlanders and NACJAC 4 weeks in a row. If they can hold serve at 2-2 through that series they should be in solid playoff contention.
4) Ho Chi Mean Hot Mamas (6-2)- The next three are hard to rank, with each team having beat the other. They lost to the Highlanders, but beat NACJAC in a narrow affair. Its also hard to put them here, since they still have an insane schedule remaining. However, these Hos are a perrenial pro playoff team, and everyone circles this game on their schedule. They definately have their work cut out for them, with LSP on deck next. Can they knock off the streaking birds and bring them back down to earth?
5) Neo Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon (6-2)- The two-time defending Garuda champion obviously hasn't missed a beat, even with the DE nerfs to probably the best DE tandem in all of SEA pro. They played a disappointing game against the Hustlers, but have strong victories against the Highlanders and a solid South Austin squad, and face a daunting schedule coming up in the next weeks.
6) Hong Kong Highlanders (6-2)- They have a huge test this week against Taiwan, starting off a 5 week gauntlet which should decide their playoff fate, and will really move them up or down in the rankings. Lets hope they are primed for the meat and potatoes of their schedule.
7) Hong Kong Hustlers (5-3)- Losses to LSP and the Bats, coupled with a heartbreaker to Krak lands them in the 7th spot, despite wins over the Highlanders and NACJAC. Its tough to judge this team, I just haven't seen enough of them. As i said week 2, I believe this is a playoff team and they have tons of potential, but they still have tough games ahead with Ho Chi, Taiwan, and the Tweets still on the sched. Can they pull through and get into the postseason?
8) Bangkok Tweetys (4-4)- Their strength of schedule to this point places them above a 5-3 team. These guys are on the bubble for the last playoff spot, but have a relatively softer schedule remaining than the #9 team, who they face this week and will decide who places where. Can they return to the playoffs to make another championship run?
9) Manila Warlords (5-3)- If they can win this week, they will move up over the Tweets. This team needs to prove, as i've said all along, they can beat the elite Garuda teams before I can move them up into playoff contention. They redid their roster this year in hopes to move up, we'll see if it pays dividends come postseason time.
10) South Austin Bats (4-4)- A huge goalline stand by the Titans in the 1st quarter ended up costing the Bats in that game, as they lost by a point. This could come back to haunt them as they have a wicked schedule remaining during their playoff run. Do they have what it takes to push thru some very good teams and make it to the playoffs?
*** Games of the Week ***
Ho Chi Mean Hot Mamas at Louisiana Screaming Pelicans
Hong Kong Highlanders at Taiwan Blood Pandas
Manila Warlords at Bangkok Tweetys
Funny Quote of the Week:
Dan Marino: Hey Ace, you got any more of that gum?
Ace Ventura: Thats none of your damn business Dan and I'll thank you to stay out of my personal affairs.
Dan: You're a weird guy Ace, a weird guy.
1) Louisiana Screaming Pelicans (8-0)- These guys came up from AAA and have been cleaning house since they've been here. A down to the wire 1-pt victory over Krak last week really solidifies their spot at the top. They've also gotten past last year's #1 regular season seed, Taiwan, with relative ease. These guys will be tough to top come playoff time.
2) Taiwan Blood Pandas (7-1)- Their sole loss came at the hands of the #1 team in the conference. They still have some tough matchups ahead, with only Krak and LSP behind them. Hong Kong Highlanders and NACJAC loom on the horizon, with smooth sailing for the most part until the Hustlers week 14 and a regular season finale with HCMHM. These guys will be in the playoffs, most likely with a home game.
3) Krakatoan Red Warriors (6-2)- The island dwellers stay strong at #3, with their only losses against the top two teams in Garuda. Their solid victory over HCMHM brings the rivalry series to 3-5 (i think) with advantage ho's. Krak has yet to beat Ho Chi in the playoffs, a ghost they will need to excise if they hope to advance this year. They have convincing victories over the Tweets and the Mamas, and a very hard fought win against a strong Hustler team. They have a wicked 4 game stretch starting week after next, with the Warlords, Bats, Highlanders and NACJAC 4 weeks in a row. If they can hold serve at 2-2 through that series they should be in solid playoff contention.
4) Ho Chi Mean Hot Mamas (6-2)- The next three are hard to rank, with each team having beat the other. They lost to the Highlanders, but beat NACJAC in a narrow affair. Its also hard to put them here, since they still have an insane schedule remaining. However, these Hos are a perrenial pro playoff team, and everyone circles this game on their schedule. They definately have their work cut out for them, with LSP on deck next. Can they knock off the streaking birds and bring them back down to earth?
5) Neo Armstrong Cyclone Jet Armstrong Cannon (6-2)- The two-time defending Garuda champion obviously hasn't missed a beat, even with the DE nerfs to probably the best DE tandem in all of SEA pro. They played a disappointing game against the Hustlers, but have strong victories against the Highlanders and a solid South Austin squad, and face a daunting schedule coming up in the next weeks.
6) Hong Kong Highlanders (6-2)- They have a huge test this week against Taiwan, starting off a 5 week gauntlet which should decide their playoff fate, and will really move them up or down in the rankings. Lets hope they are primed for the meat and potatoes of their schedule.
7) Hong Kong Hustlers (5-3)- Losses to LSP and the Bats, coupled with a heartbreaker to Krak lands them in the 7th spot, despite wins over the Highlanders and NACJAC. Its tough to judge this team, I just haven't seen enough of them. As i said week 2, I believe this is a playoff team and they have tons of potential, but they still have tough games ahead with Ho Chi, Taiwan, and the Tweets still on the sched. Can they pull through and get into the postseason?
8) Bangkok Tweetys (4-4)- Their strength of schedule to this point places them above a 5-3 team. These guys are on the bubble for the last playoff spot, but have a relatively softer schedule remaining than the #9 team, who they face this week and will decide who places where. Can they return to the playoffs to make another championship run?
9) Manila Warlords (5-3)- If they can win this week, they will move up over the Tweets. This team needs to prove, as i've said all along, they can beat the elite Garuda teams before I can move them up into playoff contention. They redid their roster this year in hopes to move up, we'll see if it pays dividends come postseason time.
10) South Austin Bats (4-4)- A huge goalline stand by the Titans in the 1st quarter ended up costing the Bats in that game, as they lost by a point. This could come back to haunt them as they have a wicked schedule remaining during their playoff run. Do they have what it takes to push thru some very good teams and make it to the playoffs?
*** Games of the Week ***
Ho Chi Mean Hot Mamas at Louisiana Screaming Pelicans
Hong Kong Highlanders at Taiwan Blood Pandas
Manila Warlords at Bangkok Tweetys
Funny Quote of the Week:
Dan Marino: Hey Ace, you got any more of that gum?
Ace Ventura: Thats none of your damn business Dan and I'll thank you to stay out of my personal affairs.
Dan: You're a weird guy Ace, a weird guy.
