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All-Star Game Thriller to Final Buzzer

February 14, 2006 - American Basketball Association (ABA) News Release


Sunrise, FL. The 2006 ABA All Star game thrilled more than 4,000 fans Saturday at the BankAtlantic Center as the East All Stars nipped the West All Stars 129-127, led by the Pittsburgh Xplosion's Armon Gilliam, who scored 29 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to earn MVP honors. Gilliam, a 6'9" center, who is playing his first year in the ABA after starring in the NBA for 13 seasons, also blocked four shots and converted several three-point plays in the closing minutes of the game to help secure victory for the East.

Other leading scorers for the East All Stars included Chandler Thompson of the Indiana Alley Cats and Chris Carrawell of the Rochester RazorSharks, who scored 19 apiece. Lawrence Moten of the Maryland Nighthawks added 16.

Caleb Gervin, nepheew of ABA legend George "Iceman" Gervin and a member of the Bellingham Slam led the West with 23 points. Bernard McIntosh of the Gallup Talons chipped in 19 and Jimmy Miggins of the Southern California Legends and Lamar Gayle of the Orange County Buzz each scored 17.

In other All Star Festivities, Randy "White Chocolate" Gill of the Maryland Nighthawks won the 3-Point Shootout while teammate Randy Cunningham won the Slam Dunk Contest and both were awarded plaques from Pit Bull Energy Drinks for their efforts. Cunningham's dunks dazzled the crowd with his high-flying artistry, jumping and jamming while Gill silenced the crowd with his pinpoint shooting accuracy.

"The 2006 ABA All Star Game was a tremendous showcase for our great ABA players, with explosive scoring and the type of exciting fast-paced action that makes the ABA one of the world's best pro basketball leagues," said ABA CEO Joe Newman. "I know the players appreciated having many NBA scouts there watching and performed to the best of their abilities - and they impressed the scouts. I'd like to thank all of the players and coaches who made this game one of the best in ABA history and I also want to thank the Florida Pit Bulls and their owners, Demetrius Ford and Tim Hardaway, for hosting and coordinating this outstanding event. The All Star game was truly a slam dunk for the league and the growing numbers of fans that associate the ABA with non-stop action and athleticism." For more information, visit www.abalive.com.

Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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