Championship Game – Fall 2009 Season
In what will go down as one of the best Metro League Finals of all-time, Canada One defend their title for a third consecutive season squeaking out a win in a nail-biter of a game against the new kids of the Metro League, Vancouver United.
All-star Navi Sekhon was the star of the show scoring 38 points including a stunning and one game winner with just seconds left on the clock helping Canada One hold off a second half charge by a very scrappy United squad to remain champs.
United started the game behind the eight ball getting into foul trouble just seven minutes in. C1 took advantage of the free foul shots which caused frustration amongst the United team and it showed. C1 go on a 9-0 run at the 11 minute mark with United’s sharp-shooter Hardeep Bassram finally erasing the run by draining a three but seeing his team down 12, 32-20 just ten minutes into the game. C1 keep the pressure on through the first half with Anthony Lao controlling the offensive glass and scoring at ease while Navi Sekhon nailed threes and drove to the hole earning C1 a comfortable 61-54 lead going into the break.
Taking a page out of C1’s book, United came out in the second half attacking the hoop and earning trips to the stripe with C1 getting themselves in foul trouble just six minutes in. The pace begins to pick up with both teams scoring in bunches. United score on 12 straight possessions at one point with Mio Kovacevic heating up and Bassram going off, dropping threes from all over. With the game knotted at 81, Kovacevic scores on a tough drive to give United their first lead since early in the first half, but C1 battle back with all-star Clayton Crellin who got into foul trouble in the first half, starting to take over. C1 retake the lead scoring in transition as they love to do. With just over three minutes to go Howard Kelsey hits a huge three to give C1 the 112-106 lead, but Bassram and Kovacevic just keep scoring for United.
Down three with just over 30 seconds to go in the game, Bassram hits an off-balance three to tie the game at 120. C1 get the ball to Sekhon who takes the lane dropping a circus shot getting fouled to go to the stripe with just 10 seconds to go on the clock. Sekhon nails the free throw as United take the ball down court trying to get it Bassram. With Bassram locked up by the C1 defenders point-guard Greg Jackson finds himself forced to jack up a prayer three-pointer from the corner that hits the inside of the rim and bounces out. Canada One earn the 123-120 victory in what was the best game of the entire season.
United get a massive game from Mio Kovacevic who scored 26 points, 19 coming in the second half. Hardeep Bassram led all scorers with 44 points including eight three-pointers.
On the winning side, Navi Sekhon edged out teammate Anthony Lao scoring 38 points while Lao put in an impressive 35 points while hauling in nine rebounds, five on the offensive glass.