1. Drip City (4-1) - Many people debate that Wolfpack should take the top spot; however, remember that Drip City’s only “loss” was because they forfeited in Week 1 due to a lack of player availability. They would be 5-0 had they suited up, and their four blowouts speak for it. They will continue to hold the #1 spot until someone can stop them. Sabeel Khan, once again, did his thing against Cereal Killers, while Sohaym and Sameer Khan also contributed more from a scoring aspect. The Khan Trio is yet to be stopped, and I don’t think any team can handle them. Alongside that, the hustle of Samy Ousman on defense is a sight to see. They took care of business against Cereal Killers, and this isn’t a rivalry anymore. Can any team rival them? Let’s see as the season progresses. You’ve got to be good to shoot 8-32 from the three-point line as a team and still win by double digits.
Remember, Salman Tailor has yet to play. Props to this team for their performances because with Salman, I can’t imagine how much more damage can be done to D3.
2. Wolfpack (5-0) - This team has come out the gates in an impressive manner, starting the season 5-0, and winning two crucial overtime games. This team has enormous potential, and if anyone is to challenge Drip City, this team will do it. To start, Zain Razak continues to be a floor general, creating shots and opportunities for his teammates. This past week, he decided to get some scoring done, as he put up 24 points to lead his team against PIA. Furthermore, this team's bench's presence is vital, as they contribute well from an offensive and defensive standpoint. Each player knows their role on this team and plays it well. They take on Cereal Killers this week, and if they advance to 6-0 against this team, I think it's clear they have the capabilities of winning the championship. So if you have anyone to watch out for, Drip City, Wolfpack is it.
3. Swarm (3-2) - What a way to bounce back, as Swarm handed Cream City their first season loss. This game required a team effort, and they stood up to the plate. Arhum Ali came with force, delivering 16 points and 14 rebounds while adding 3 assists and 2 steals to his stat line. Saim Ali made up for his performance in Week 4, as he cashed in on three-pointers while making his presence known on the defensive end with multiple steals and blocks. Their x-factor, Jake Farnsworth, did his part with 13 points, collectively contributing to Swarm’s ten-point victory. Another essential aspect to consider is that this team overcame the 2-3 Zone that troubled them all season. They forced Cream City to switch to Man-Man defense, which showed their ability to bounce back, as they could not get past Wolfpack’s zone, but they figured a way to break it against Cream City. That’s something to look out for now, D3, because they will invite you to try any defense. Shakil Syed has made his presence known and will disrupt a team’s flow. Aashir Ali, although he’s not scoring as much, is making plays that lead to baskets for his team, as he is leading D3 in assists. This team bounced back well, but can they keep this consistency? They’ll need to if they want to hold that trophy up at the end of the season.
Congratulations to Arhum Ali on his third Player of the Week Award!
4. Cream City (4-1) - Let’s give a quick shoutout to this team because they have four all-star nominations in Wisam Ablouj, Ahmed Abdelhady, Ayman Abdelaaty, and Mohammed Kazzaz. This speaks to their capabilities to flow together as a team. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case this past week. They did have a strong 10-0 start against Swarm but could not finish the job, as their defensive strategy needed to switch, which caused them to play at Swarm’s pace. Nonetheless, Ayman performed, scoring 20 points and 12 rebounds, and helped his team stay relatively close until Ahmed Abdelhady went down with an injury. This cost them, and they ultimately faced a ten-point loss, their first of the season. One loss doesn’t change much, though, this team has proven their capabilities, and they are one to keep an eye on come playoffs.
5. Cereal Killers (3-2) - A tough couple of weeks for this squad, having faced a loss to PIA and now one in double-digits to Drip City. Umar Khalid’s absence spoke the story of this team’s performance, as they could not hit from beyond the arc and shot 7-40 as a team. Although Aasim Akhtar had a respectable 26 points and 13 rebounds and Umer Khan tallied a vital 8 points and 7 rebounds, without Umar Khalid, there was no lead for this team, and the quality in shot selection paid the price. Overall, this team is a top team in D3 when things are clicking, and they’ll need to make up for lost ground as the competition has increased in the standings. After Cereal Killers, there are three other teams with (3-2) records, and they aren’t waiting around. They face off against undefeated Wolfpack this week, and they will need to get it together as a unit if they want a chance to deliver their opponent their first loss of the season.
6. Dreamers (3-2) - After a forfeit win in Week 4, Dreamers retook the court for the first time following their loss to Cream City. They wanted to make a statement, and they did so, scoring 90 points against a short-handed AK Trey team. Shadan Amin bounced back, scoring 25 points with 7 three-pointers, while Sulaiman Asif delivered 20 points with 6 three-pointers. Adil Uddin piled in with an all-around performance of 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. Speaking of all around, Muneeb Moulvi, with 8 rebounds and 7 assists, also fits that category. These performances allowed Ravi Sharma to take a step back and enjoy the show, and Dreamers bounced back the way they wanted. They came with a vengeance and wanted to remind the teams sleeping on them that they will compete for the championship. Everything clicked for this team, and we saw the result; let’s see if they can keep the momentum against Main Event.
7. 2Nyce (3-2) - After a bit of a struggle, this team made adjustments by the roster deadline and has turned it around completely. They were initially ranked in the top five to begin the season, and they’ve played like it in the past couple of games, making easy work of Prospects and Black Mambas. Ibrahim Ellahi has been a consistent performer, as he’s brought it offensively and defensively for 2Nyce. Alongside him, Asif Qureshi has filled up the scoring column, and these two have shown that when they can impact the game together, they will win by significant margins. Ateek Shaikh and Arsalan Rehman are two players that will bring defensive intensity to any team, and having these options available give 2Nyce a strong case for a win every game. They face off against #1 ranked Drip City, and if things click for this team as they’ve been recently, I believe they will impose a challenge on the best team in D3, but let’s see if 2Nyce will step up to that challenge.
8. I See I Shoot (2-3) - Back-to-back wins for this team, and by significant margins to that! Omar Ouadii has filled up the stat sheet from every aspect, as he’s in the top ten for points, rebounds, steals, and blocks! These are MVP numbers, and his performances have lifted his team thus far! Alongside him is John Wahab, a significant body presence that can handle the ball and control the offense. Both of these players, alongside the help of Raihan Dadabhoy, Owais Ali, and Mir Ali, are helping their team get wins, and if they keep this momentum going, playoffs will be within reach for them. Also, they may have the best bench energy in the league!
9. AK Trey (3-2) - Back to Back losses for this squad, they only had four players this past week, and it cost them, as Dreamers walked them. Edwin Tolentino and Arshad Dadabhoy have been consistent factors in their games, but they’ll need to have their entire roster to compete. So don’t count them out; they’ll usually bounce back, as they’ve been throughout the years in MBL.
10. PIA (2-3) - Tough loss coming off a big win for this team. They did their best to keep up with Wolfpack but ultimately couldn’t pull through. Nonetheless, this team has shown what they are capable of, and although they are ranked lower this week, I wouldn’t be surprised if they make a comeback. Saddach Warraich is a great point guard, and alongside him is scoring threat Abbas Gauhar. They need both of these players to perform to collect wins, and if their x-factor in Ali Shah performs, they will do even better. They have a tough matchup against Cream City this week, but as they’ve shown in the past, they welcome any challenge.
11. Black Mambas (2-3) - This team had a solid start to the season, but it’s fallen ever since. Most of their players look for the “highlight” play when they step on the court. But, as I mentioned last week, their biggest flaw is their lack of communication, and this week was no different. Huddles weren’t productive, and everyone had their heads down. Hammad Amer needs to step up to the plate because teams are getting gifts from him because of his misses and hesitation. He needs to play strong and be confident in his shot selection. Amjad Hamideh needs to score on a more consistent basis for his team because I know the Hamideh family doesn’t like to lose, and they come to watch your games, so give them a win Amjad. Albert Sosa is doing his part as usual, but he will need another piece to work alongside him to control the flow of the offense. 2Nyce exposed this team’s defense, and Black Mambas will need to wake up to compete. They take on Grim Reapers this week, so if there’s a chance for this team to figure out something, it’s this game.
One more thing, Zain, you already know what I’m going to tell you.. now do your part and show up.
12. Main Event (2-3) - I See I Shoot surprised Main Event this past game with their defense and ability to run the floor. This quickly became a Mohamed Aboubaker vs. I See I Shoot game, as no one else on Main Event stepped up to the plate. Mohamed had an impressive 27 points and 6 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to get Main Event the win, as the opposition played team basketball and trusted one another. Main Event won their two games through teamwork and trust, but once you decide to rely on Mohamed Aboubaker and not give him help, he’s just taking on the other team himself. They take on a tough Dreamers team this week, and if they don’t bring it defensively, they’ll get shot right out of the building by this team.
13. Love Wins (2-3) - Ali Kassamali put on a clinic against Hooks Air Chai, as he led his team to a one-sided victory. Alongside him came Ali Rizvi and Junaid Zaveri, who contributed well in the scoring column. Not just that, all three of these players tallied near 10 rebounds. This overwhelmed Hooks Aur Chai, as Love Wins took this game by a blowout. They take on the #3 ranked Swarm this week, and Love Wins better be up for the task because Swarm isn’t taking this game lightly.
14. Prospects (1-4) - Well done collecting your first win Mouaz! Aliyan Ismail put on a show, scoring 15 points and 19 rebounds. This was a team effort, as they took down Grim Reapers. This team needed to see a win, and with the acquisition of Zohab Khan, you get more defensively. So let’s see if this team can pick up the pace because we’re halfway through the season, and getting your first win is a start, but let’s see if you can keep it going.
Congratulations to Aliyan Ismail on earning Player of the Week honors!
15. Maryland Grim Reapers (0-5) - Another tough loss, Zubair Ahmed has been putting up all-star numbers, but he doesn’t have any help from his team. They won’t win with a one-person show and will need more from their bigs and supporting cast going forward. They are still ahead of Hooks Air Chai which is the only good thing, but is that something to celebrate? Let’s see some wins; boys, IOK doesn’t produce losses
16. Hooks Aur Chai (0-5) - Another week, another loss. After their performance last week, they face an AK Trey team looking for vengeance. I’m curious now, who will get their first win, Hooks Aur Chai or Maryland Grim Reapers?