Delco Pro-Am Basketball Championship Game

Temple's Mardy Collins in the center with his team T.Y.G.T.A.L.

At almost the last minute, I learned that the championship game of the Delaware Country Pro-Am Men’s Basketball Summer League was being held last night, so I took a trip up to King of Prussia to check it out. 

What a game. 

It came down to Villanova versus Temple.

In the first half, Temple grad Mardy Collins went to work. It seemed like everything he shot was touching nothing but net. His team was up by 15 before they lost a little momentum going into the half and had their lead cut down to single digits.

The second half, with Villanova grads Reggie Redding at the point and Antonia Pena at shooting forward, they chipped away to finally take the lead late in the game. 

As with most NBA/NCAA type games, it all came down to the last 2 minutes where emotions, fatigue, foul shooting, turnovers, and bad calls took over.

The key turnover/bad call came with the score tied and 30 secs left. The Villanova led team got caught-up at mid court as their player fell on his knees with the ball in hand and the refs called traveling.

Hold on! 

For the first time in my life I witnessed the refs consult and overturn a traveling call. The ball went back to the Nova team. (In my opinion, the guy didn’t travel, but I’ve never seen that type of call reversed).

As all good drama dictates, Antonio Pena drilled a 3-pointed from deep on the wing with a hand in his face with 1.9 secs to go.

When you thought it was over, the Nova guys fouled the guy shooting a 3-pointer with less than a second on the clock.

He makes the first free throw and misses the second. Obviously, now down by 2 points, he’ll intentionally miss the 3rd free throw to give his team a chance at the rebound and put-back to tie and go into overtime.

Nope. He makes the 3rd free throw. When did it become cool to lose by 1?

I can’t wait til next year.