Tag: New Mexico Bluetails

F.I.R.M. become the two-time defending Champions, defeat New Mexico

Arlington, TX – The Fort Worth F.I.R.M. have been on a mission for 2 years. The 2021 PBA Champion went undefeated in 2022 and proved their value once again when it counted most in the Final 4. New Mexico having come off an impressive victory over Georgia came into the game riding their explosive 2-man game with Lamar Morinia and Devon Williams. The F.I.R.M. countered with veteran leader Wolf Rabb, shooters in Jelon Hornbeak and Chasten King, and pick and pop big man JR Duffy along with the high flying, shot blocking, big man Damontrae McFarland. Rabb just seemed to be able to control the game from the onset. At 6’5 and 225lbs he’s a little bit of a mismatch for most point guards and he’s savvy with it. He just knows how to use his body and create angles, and get into a pick and roll game with the post in an elbow series that the F.I.R.M. runs really effectively. He was effective getting into the paint against smaller guards that are a second late on the ball screen action or backing out and creating space for a switch mismatch, or finding the perfect timing for the pocket pass that was allowing his bigs to finish high percentage shots right at the goal. It’s not that the Bluetails couldn’t score. Sure they started off slowly but they always do. It was the percentage from the field they were allowing that really seemed to doom their chances for a second half comeback. Inevitably the F.I.R.M. did what the F.I.R.M. do defeating New Mexico 102-88 and earning the PBA Championship in the process. Wolf Rabb was named Final 4 MVP.

New Mexico advances to Championship Game defeating Georgia

Arlington, TX – New Mexico Bluetails and Georgia Vipers both came into the Nationals having won their divisions, the Southwest and the Southeast respectively. Both organizations having only experienced one loss over the course of the season. The two teams proved to be fairly evenly matched throughout this one. Georgia was up early and seemed to be ready to break away late in the first half but the Bluetails got a little momentum starting to buckle down a little bit at the defensive end and then going to a combination of Guard Lamar Morinia and Forward Devon Williams to help get them back in the game just before halftime. For the Vipers, who had rode the electric play of Guard Cortez Chaney and Swing forward Cornelius Thomas en-route to this opportunity, they just lost momentum and were frustrated attacking the basket in the second half. The set defense of the Bluetails with a little more size and length inside proved to be the difference as Williams was a difficult matchup on both ends, serving as an effective secondary scoring option on one end and also helping to form that wall on the defensive end as well. Bluetails advance defeating Georgia in this one 97-86.

New Mexico Bluetails triumphant in home opener, defeating Plainview Knights 128-102

Bernalillo, NM – The New Mexico Bluetails hosted the Plainview Knights last night in a battle of New Mexico and Texas. The Southwest Division Bluetails win at home over the South Division Knights 128-102. Bluetails moved to 1-0 on the season and Knights open at 0-1. Both clubs played with determination and grit in what is a promising season ahead for both in the Pro Basketball Association.