Edmonton Energy Will Host IBL Champions
June 18, 2011 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Edmonton Energy News Release
Edmonton Energy (11-4) will host 2010 IBL Champions/current 1st place team- Albany New York Legends (12-3) - next weekend
* The Edmonton Energy is balanced with true point guards, shooting guard, small forwards, power forwards and centers.
* Energy ownership is considered one of the top 2 to 3 teams for a player to play for and so Edmonton is always a contender for the IBL title.
* Eight players average double-figures in scoring- making the Edmonton Energy team a team that is very hard to stop as the Energy team spreads wide on fast breaks and has many shooters. The traditional defense taught from grade school through college is to 'protect the lane first' but if teams do that versus the Energy, they are likely to be hit with a three pointer from one of many players on the Energy team that can shoot from that range- well.
* Early season: the team started off 2-4 but those six games were against two teams- the 2011 Championship Albany Legends and the team they beat in the finals (in New York, video found on IBL web site, click on Albany) - the Bellingham Slam; both teams having played 9 games and 5 games more than the Energy at the time they met.
* Mid season: so after starting off 2-4, the Energy team has gone on a 9 game winning streak with consistent play and balanced scoring.
* Late season: at this point, with a 9 game winning streak, it is now time for the Edmonton Energy to play top level basketball before the playoffs (July 1st, 2nd and 3rd near Portland Oregon) and it is time for the Edmonton Energy's last home stand this weekend (next Friday, Saturday and Sunday June 24th, 25th and 26th at the University of Alberta 7:30pm, 7:30pm and 2:00pm) against the overall 1st place and 12-3 Albany (New York) Legends; this Albany team is solid, balanced and obviously an IBL Championship contender, so this is the point where the Edmonton Energy come together and show where they really stand heading into the playoffs. Edmonton Energy versus Albany Legends is not only a good series on paper- but as well- it has been a tough rivalry each time these two teams have played. In both 2009 and in 2010, the Albany head coach was tossed out at home and suspended 1 game in contests that the Edmonton Energy won (Edmonton won 1 game and lost 2 games in Albany New York in the last two years). The Albany Legends media and fans consider the series at home versus Edmonton Energy their best rivalry and they look forward to the three game series each year.
* IBL Commissioner Mikal Duilio- "the Edmonton Energy owners run a good organization and they are always a contender for the IBL championship; fans really need to come to the University of Alberta next weekend to check out the high level talent on this 2011 Energy team- this will be an exciting 3-game rivalry series against a team from New York- should be fun to watch".
• Discuss this story on the International Basketball League message board...
International Basketball League Stories from June 18, 2011
- Edmonton Energy Will Host IBL Champions - Edmonton Energy
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.
