I'll be working on doing a Playoff Preview as well but first comes the final power rankings of the season. I've been a lot busier of late and so I haven't been able to do these in quite some time and I apologize for that...but here they are:
1. Bangkok Tweetys (16-0)
Not much argument can be made here, the only undefeated team in SE Asia Pro League and they have to be one of the big favorites to win it all this season. Great season for them after moving up from the AAA league.
Next game: vs. #15 Johor Bahru Beach Bums (9-7)
2. Bangkok Seamen (15-1)
Another great season from a former AAA team that really took the Pro league by storm. One hiccup against the defending champs and they were right back where they started the season winning their final 6 games.
Next game: vs. #16 Tokyo Whalers (8-8)
3. New England Partisans (15-1)
Very strong season this year after a disappointing end to their playoff hopes last year. They hope this year as the #2 seed yet again that things will be different and they can make their way to the finals. They'll have to beat the defending champs yet again in the conference semis if they want to achieve that goal however.
Next game: vs. #13 Macau Gamblers (10-6)
4. Kentucky Colonels (14-2)
A strong season this year and made a very good showing against the #1 Bangkok Tweetys a couple weeks ago losing by just 3 points. They are one of the favorites in the Zeta conference to represent them in the finals, and would love to get their revenge for that close loss in a rematch against the Tweetys.
Next game: vs. #14 Guangzhou Ducks (9-7)
5. Taiwan Royals (14-2)
The defending champs had a couple more bumps in the road this year with 2 tough losses against the Gamblers and the Partisans. This is a team that no one wants to play though, and will be a force in the playoffs. Still one of my favorites to come out of the Alpha conference as they are the only team to have beaten the top seed in this conference.
Next game: vs. #11 Big Dick Rutkowski and the Penetrators (10-6)
6. Haiphong Hitmen (14-2)
Only 2 losses of the year were tough games to the Tweetys and Colonels and they'll be looking for their revenge on them in the playoffs. Have had a good season and will need some great play to make a deep playoff run.
Next game: vs. #12 Saigon Knights (10-6)
7. Phuket All (13-3)
Only 3 losses of the season were to the 3 powerhouse teams in the Alpha conference but this team is capable of beating any of the 3 on the right day. Not a team that people will want to play in the playoffs and could make for a very tough matchup in the second round for the Seamen.
Next game: vs. #8 Kunming Panthers (11-5)
8. Kunming Panthers (11-5)
After a tough loss to Phuket All, they bounced back in a big way against the Aussie Battlers winning by 27 points. They will get their chance at a rematch with Phuket All and a chance to get some revenge on them for their earlier loss.
Next game: vs. #7 Phuket All (13-3)
9. Aussie Battlers (12-4)
Losing 2 of their last 3 was not the way this team wanted to finish the season. They were one of the hot teams late in the year but kind of sputtered to the finish. They'll be looking to get back on the winning track and to play the upset card in a game against the Tweetys in the 2nd round.
Next game: vs. #10 Indonesia Islanders (10-5-1)
10. Indonesia Islanders (10-5-1)
Lost to all 4 teams that are seeded ahead of them on top of losing a late one to the #8 seeded team from the Zeta conference by a point. They have an opportunity to win their first round game against a Battlers team they lost to last time around.
Next game: vs. #9 Aussie Battlers (12-4)
Best of the rest:
11. Big Dick Rutkowski and the Penetrators (10-6)
12. Saigon Knights (10-6)
13. Macau Gamblers (10-6)
14. Guangzhou Ducks (9-7)
15. Johor Bahru Beach Bums (9-7)
16. Tokyo Whalers (8-8)
1. Bangkok Tweetys (16-0)
Not much argument can be made here, the only undefeated team in SE Asia Pro League and they have to be one of the big favorites to win it all this season. Great season for them after moving up from the AAA league.
Next game: vs. #15 Johor Bahru Beach Bums (9-7)
2. Bangkok Seamen (15-1)
Another great season from a former AAA team that really took the Pro league by storm. One hiccup against the defending champs and they were right back where they started the season winning their final 6 games.
Next game: vs. #16 Tokyo Whalers (8-8)
3. New England Partisans (15-1)
Very strong season this year after a disappointing end to their playoff hopes last year. They hope this year as the #2 seed yet again that things will be different and they can make their way to the finals. They'll have to beat the defending champs yet again in the conference semis if they want to achieve that goal however.
Next game: vs. #13 Macau Gamblers (10-6)
4. Kentucky Colonels (14-2)
A strong season this year and made a very good showing against the #1 Bangkok Tweetys a couple weeks ago losing by just 3 points. They are one of the favorites in the Zeta conference to represent them in the finals, and would love to get their revenge for that close loss in a rematch against the Tweetys.
Next game: vs. #14 Guangzhou Ducks (9-7)
5. Taiwan Royals (14-2)
The defending champs had a couple more bumps in the road this year with 2 tough losses against the Gamblers and the Partisans. This is a team that no one wants to play though, and will be a force in the playoffs. Still one of my favorites to come out of the Alpha conference as they are the only team to have beaten the top seed in this conference.
Next game: vs. #11 Big Dick Rutkowski and the Penetrators (10-6)
6. Haiphong Hitmen (14-2)
Only 2 losses of the year were tough games to the Tweetys and Colonels and they'll be looking for their revenge on them in the playoffs. Have had a good season and will need some great play to make a deep playoff run.
Next game: vs. #12 Saigon Knights (10-6)
7. Phuket All (13-3)
Only 3 losses of the season were to the 3 powerhouse teams in the Alpha conference but this team is capable of beating any of the 3 on the right day. Not a team that people will want to play in the playoffs and could make for a very tough matchup in the second round for the Seamen.
Next game: vs. #8 Kunming Panthers (11-5)
8. Kunming Panthers (11-5)
After a tough loss to Phuket All, they bounced back in a big way against the Aussie Battlers winning by 27 points. They will get their chance at a rematch with Phuket All and a chance to get some revenge on them for their earlier loss.
Next game: vs. #7 Phuket All (13-3)
9. Aussie Battlers (12-4)
Losing 2 of their last 3 was not the way this team wanted to finish the season. They were one of the hot teams late in the year but kind of sputtered to the finish. They'll be looking to get back on the winning track and to play the upset card in a game against the Tweetys in the 2nd round.
Next game: vs. #10 Indonesia Islanders (10-5-1)
10. Indonesia Islanders (10-5-1)
Lost to all 4 teams that are seeded ahead of them on top of losing a late one to the #8 seeded team from the Zeta conference by a point. They have an opportunity to win their first round game against a Battlers team they lost to last time around.
Next game: vs. #9 Aussie Battlers (12-4)
Best of the rest:
11. Big Dick Rutkowski and the Penetrators (10-6)
12. Saigon Knights (10-6)
13. Macau Gamblers (10-6)
14. Guangzhou Ducks (9-7)
15. Johor Bahru Beach Bums (9-7)
16. Tokyo Whalers (8-8)
