IBC 23: SURGE GUN FOR TITLE NO. 3Do the Kanyeans have what it takes to win in Abaja?by Claude HarlanKARDASHIA - The St. Kanye Surge have reached the top, of the world national hoops team rankings and of last season's International Basketball Championships, but that doesn't mean that the journey has ended. The boys in purple and lime are hoping to take things even further, with their goal being a back-to-back IBC title and third championship overall (after IBC 20 and 22).
Minimal changes have been made to the roster for IBC 23, jointly hosted by the Federal Republic of Abaja and the Principality of Qasden, with the coaching staff and starting five still being intact. Streetball standout Dave Samson and noted pass interceptor Johnathan Schneider have been added to the mix to replace injured players Oliver Lopez (calf) and Andre Andams (hand). The returnees include team captain Josh Jackson, IBC 22's Finals MVP Victor McLain, as well as other starters Michael Porter, Brock Dotson and Joel Pond.
The Glorious Free Republic was drawn into Group B, which means that their games will be held in Abaja. Their opponents will be the world #15 and IBC 18 champion Cosumar Stallions, 59th-ranked Free Republics, and undranked nations Nueva Celta and PandaClaws. Surge power forward Dotson said, "Cosumar will likely present the biggest challenge, they started strong in last season's group stages just like us. We're not the same team who beat them twice [in the IBC 20's Round of 16], that was the original team, so this will be new to us." Head coach Anton Spoletto added "But of course no one will be counted out, Pittopi showed us last season that unranked nations are never to be taken lightly, neither are lower-ranked teams like the Free Republics." The massive Surge fanbase has started trickling into Abaja, ready to don the national colors of purple and lime to show their support for the team.
St. Kanye (STK) Surge Roster - IBC 23Anton Spoletto | Head Coach | 64 yo Coach Spoletto has collected 24 titles in 34 years of coaching high school, college, and the amateur and pro leagues, not to mention the IBC 22 trophy last season. He's a master strategist who's fond of surprising his opponents by mixing up his plays and lineups a lot. He will give everyone a chance to play, put up stats, and prove themselves.
Bernard Foley | Assistant Coach | 36 yo Assistant Coach Foley provides a defensive mindset to the team to complement Coach Brewster's preference for offense.
#56 | Michael Porter | PG (Starter) | 23 yo | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 188 lb (85 kg)Michael (never Mike) lost both parents in a skiing accident when he was 14, which forced him out of high school, where he was the captain of the basketball team. He turned to the sport as a way to support himself and his five younger siblings, playing in the street courts of Jalton City for money. A scout from Upper Middle Lowlands State University saw his skills and offered him money to finish high school, and a full athletic scholarship to UMLSU afterwards. Today Michael showcases his fancy footwork, trick shots, and immense passing ability as the starting point guard of the UMLSU Dogs, and now, the Surge.
#18 | Victor McLain | SG (Starter) | 22 yo | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 200 lb (91 kg)Many sportswriters from all around the Glorious Free Republic have hailed the Kanyean National Institute of Technology's Victor McLain as "the three-pointer, personified" and fully expected him to take his long-distance prowess to the national hoops team one day. A baller since grade school, McLain practiced and perfected his three-point shot, doing it from a variety of distances, angles, and even number of defenders, breaking many school basketball scoring records in the process. He's also quite good at closer shots, including free throws, although his defending abilities are just at average, and his rebounding well below it.
#00 | Josh Jackson | SF (Starter, Captain) | 26 yo | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 213 lb (97 kg)Josh led the Bernard Foley-coached South Central University Skulls to the first of its back-to-back titles in his senior year, and was crowned MVP for his efforts (30.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists per game). After graduation, Josh became an amateur league standout (he wanted some experience before joining the pros), and eventually became a solid choice to be the new Surge's team captain. Josh is an all-around player - more than able both to shoot and pass, rebound and defend. He's more likely to layup than dunk, but he'd gladly do the latter if pumped up enough.
#13 | Brock Dotson | PF (Starter) | 23 yo | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | 262 lb (119 kg)Brock, Michael Porter's second-in-command at UMLSU, possesses height, long arms, quick reflexes and a keen eye regarding the basketball, which makes him useful for rebounding, blocking, stealing and diving for loose balls. Brock is also good at drawing fouls from defenders, though not at sinking those charities after. His field goal abilities, including threes, are above average. Aside from basketball, Brock is rather fond of 7ball, the Drawkian sport, which he plays to pick up new moves and improve his athleticism. He also acts as a "playing scout" and is the on most often analyzing games of teams and players they will face next.
#28 | Joel Pond | C (Starter) | 26 yo | 7 ft (2.13 m) | 293 lb (133 kg)Seven feet and two hundred and ninety-three pounds of pure energy, Pond overwhelms and tires out his defenders in the amateur league on a regular basis. He's also one of the most ferocious dunkers and blockers around - truly a beast out of other team's nightmares. Pond is a "gentle giant" away from the court, friendly to young fans and preferring to listen to classical music on the team bus to and from games.
#19 | Norman Walker | PG (Bench) | 22 yo | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 175 lb (79 kg)All you need to know about Norman is in his nickname: "The Fly". "Fly" as in the insect - small, fast, hard to get rid of (as a defender). And "fly" as in soaring - who says people below six feet can't dunk?
#7 | Jayvon Duff | SG (Bench) | 23 yo | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 193 lb (88 kg)If Victor McLain is the president of Rainbow Country, Duff could well be his vice president. While also a master of the long shot, Duff takes longer to heat up, and so he's at his best during late game situations, knocking back go-ahead baskets or game-winning buzzer-beaters.
#11 | Zack Coyle | SF (6th Man) | 22 yo | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 235 lb (107 kg)Coyle, of Kardashia A&M, is the Surge's sixth man and its most capable defender. His output does not reflect much on the scoreboard (2.7 points per game), but only because he mostly focuses on D (7.6 steals, 3.1 blocks, 8.8 forced turnovers).
#8 | Dave Samson | PF (Bench) | 20 yo | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 256 lb (116 kg)Dave is from the Jalton City projects and was discovered by Michael Porter during one of the latter's streetball games, mostly impressed by the difficulty defenders have getting past him, his speed in getting to them, and his close and mid-range shooting.
#26 | DeAngelo Norris | C (Bench) | 20 yo | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)| 289 lb (131 kg)Quick as he is tall (no slow big men for the purple and lime), hard-working (first to practice, last to leave) and a jokester in the locker room. This former high school star, now with Northwest Tech, is the second youngest player in the national team after the addition of Dave Samson.
#6 | Johnathan Schneider | SF (Bench) | 21 yo | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 218 lb (99 kg)A patient player who prefers safe, sure shots, cool under pressure, but is more known for intercepting opponents' passes. A last-minute addition after Andre Adams broke his hand in practice three months before IBC 23.
#10 | Joey Levy | PF (Bench) | 24 yo | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) | 257 lb (117 kg)Joey puts the "power" in "power forward". He's a very physical player, not afraid to force his way past opposing players to throw down shots. Hopefully his hot temper and knack for picking fights doesn't get the better of him.
Game Schedule - Group BMatchday 1: Purple Jerseys vs. PandaClaws (UR*)
Matchday 2: White Jerseys vs. Free Republics (59)
Matchday 3: BREAK
Matchday 4: Purple Jerseys vs. Nueva Celta (UR)
Matchday 5: White Jerseys vs. Cosumar (15)
BREAK
Matchday 6: White Jerseys vs. PandaClaws (UR)
Matchday 7: Purple Jerseys vs. Free Republics (59)
Matchday 8: BREAK
Matchday 9: White Jerseys vs. Nueva Celta (UR)
Matchday 10: Purple Jerseys vs. Cosumar (15)
BREAK
Playoffs
*Unranked.
All games televised live through SKYNET (Saint KanYe NETwork) Sports Channel 12 and streamed on ibc-tv.stk.
In the next issue: More news about your Surge, including Group B team spotlights!
My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
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RP Injuries to my Players: No
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