Regular Season Finishing, Playoffs Beckoning
June 25, 2008 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Edmonton Chill News Release
With their wildly successful inaugural regular season nearly complete after their 10th straight home win last Saturday against the Vancouver Volcanoes, the Edmonton Chill players and coaches will gather together this afternoon at 3pm at Concordia University College for their final practice before heading off on the road one last time.
The Chill will play their final regular season game on Thursday against the Jazz of Tacoma, whom they swept in back-to-back games on May 9th and 10th, the second win being the first of the team's three big comeback wins this year. That game will be available live on the team's website, www.edmontonchill.com, beginning at about 8:10pm Edmonton time.
As for the playoffs, here is an explanation of the IBL's format and how the Chill fit in. Each of the two conferences will hold a three day single elimination tournament June 27-29. The top eight teams from each conference will be seeded by winning percentage and then play 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, etc, down to a championship game on the Sunday. Championship Sunday will also feature a 3-Point Shootout and Slam Dunk Contest. The two winning teams from each conference will then face each other in a best-of-three championship series on July 18-20 that will be hosted by the Western Conference Champions, therefore, if the Chill wins their playoff tournament, they would host the championships here in Edmonton. As of today, our boys are the 3-seed, and would lock down that spot with a win Thursday at Tacoma, although with a loss they could fall to the 4-seed, but no lower. Friday's opening playoff game, which looks to be against the Los Angeles Lightning, who feature Fred Vinson and Lamond Murray who both have NBA experience, is scheduled for 1:30pm Edmonton time and will also be available online, but check the team website Friday morning for exact start times for the game.
Team owner and president Troy Barns said, "Our organization and players can't thank the fans enough for the amazing support they have given us this year, and I know the players would love nothing more than to bring them home a championship," he continued to say, "Still, whatever happens this weekend in Everett [Snohomish County, the host team for the playoffs] our guys have given a tremendous effort all spring and we are all very proud to be the first Edmonton team to make the playoffs this year."
International Basketball League Stories from June 25, 2008
- IBL playoff schedule - IBL
- Explosion Head Coach Randy Redwine to return for 2009 Season - Snohomish County Explosion
- Regular Season Finishing, Playoffs Beckoning - Edmonton Chill
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