#PHPassionRegionFinals Day One Gamechangers
For many teams on the #PHCircuit, it has come down to the #PHPassionRegionFinals, and they are ready to make their run for the trophy. Teams will need scoring, floor generals, and defensive stoppers, but most importantly, they will need players that can be game changers and impact the game in ways that put their team in a position to get the victory. Day one had its share of game changers… let’s look at a few.
Team: PSB Tampa ’24
Instagram: Whosjio
Twitter: @Robinson_jovani
Jovani was a steady factor in the match-up against NoSleep ’24. He was key in slowing down every run that NoSleep made by hitting huge buckets at crucial moments throughout the game. He is an all-level scorer that also got it done offensively off the bounce. He wasn’t the main option for his squad, but his play was just as significant as the players that PSB leaned on for point production. Defensively he is a tough-minded defender who is very disruptive. He has active hands, plays the passing lanes, and forced several turnovers with his aggressive play.
What made him a Gamechanger:
I mentioned this earlier, but every time NoSleep made a run, Jovani made a huge bucket. Whether it was off an attack to the cup or in transition from getting a steal, he kept NoSleep at bay, helping his squad hang on to the day one win.
Team: NoSleep Sports ’24
Instagram: _sully13
Twitter: @_sully13
Suliman was the alpha leader for NoSleep, and from the very tip, he had a relentless competitive nature about his game. He showed his ability to knock down the trey ball, and he showed his ability to come off screens and get into his c&s opportunity. Suliman made his presence felt on the offensive end beyond his ability to knock down the trey ball as he created off the bounce for his teammates, facilitated the offense, and was active on the offensive glass. Defensively, he was a hard-nosed defender who made ball-handlers work for every inch. Suliman is at his best when he is in attack mode on both ends of the floor. Some way, he just seemed to be wired to play with great intensity and a high motor. He needs to work on his shot selection, as some shots he took had me scratching my head. Make no mistake about it; he was undoubtedly a game changer.
What made him a Gamechanger:
NoSleep would have been in trouble had it not been for the leadership that Suliman brought to the table. There had to be someone that rallied the team and kept them working with the belief that they could overcome the deficit, and Suliman did just that. It was his play that helped his team stay motivated to keep fighting.
Team: Team Dynasty ’24
Instagram: 561.marr
Twitter: @561Marr
Jamar had a huge day one 24pt performance. He is listed as a 6’3 forward that tried to dominate every possession. He is a fierce competitor on the glass, in which he was dominant. He was aggressive in his downhill attacks as he put his head down and repeatedly got to the cup and was either finishing thru contact or earning a trip to the line. He is a physical player that plays extremely hard on both ends of the court. He sets solid screens, rebounds with force, and defends with intensity. There is nothing flashy about Jamar’s offensive game, as he wants to beat his defender off the bounce in the open court and in half-court sets.
What made him a Gamechanger:
His 24pt performance was a game-high, and it was his scoring that paced his squad in both halves of the game. When Team Dynasty seemed to be going flat, Jamar responded and purposedly put his head down and allowed nothing to get in his way and in the way of his team getting the win.
Nathaniel Moffitt (6’3/G | F/’25)
Team: One Force Basketball ’24
Instagram: moffitt.nate
Twitter: N/A
Nathaniel is a slim swingman that is playing up one age division and contributed in critical moments of the game against Team Dynasty. He can put it on the floor and create his own shot and create for his teammates. He is agile and quick, and when he gets in the lane, he makes good decisions with the ball. He showed his ability to score from all levels, and he’s got a nice in-between game with a nice touch in the lane and from mid-range. He’s a young talented scorer and is really crafty with the ball in his hands. He has good positional size, and his development is going to be one to keep an eye on. He has to commit to the weight room and begin working on his strength and his body.
What made him a Gamechanger:
When his team needed points in the second half, he stepped up and produced by either scoring off the bounce or creating for a teammate. He had his hands in crucial plays that helped One Force keep it close until team Dynasty stretched out the lead late in the game.
Team: Team Trilogy ’24
Instagram: elyjahfreeman_
Twitter: @elyjahfreeman_
Elyjah was huge in the scoring column for his squad in the match-up against Heart N’ Hustle. He showed flashes of his ability to be a versatile swingman. He is the most dangerous when he is in the paint, utilizing his length and scoring over the top of defenders, yet he did show his ability to put in on the floor and score off the bounce. Elyjah was a tough cover in iso situations because he caused match-up problems with his size, agility, and ability to get his own offense. He’s very efficient from the field when playing to his strengths, and when he is doing that, he really knows how to put the ball in the basket. At times in the second half, he went away from his bread and butter. I am not saying that he cannot get it done from behind the arc, but he went through a stretch when he attempted to score from deep and missed 5 attempts during that time. A few plays later, he got back to attacking off the bounce and helped stabilize his team and keep the lead against a feisty Heart N’ Hustle squad. If he can knock the trey ball, that just increases his stock. If he continues to focus on his perimeter play, with his versatility, he can make serious jumps in his game and improve his appeal to coaches at the next level.
What made him a Gamechanger:
His length was too much for Heart N’ Hustle to deal with defensively. Had team Trilogy stuck with feeding Elyjah on the low block and clearing lanes for his attack off the bounce, the game probably would not have been as close as it was. He is a match-up nightmare for opposing teams.
Team: Heart N/ Hustle ’24
Instagram: TreyMurray2024
Twitter: @Treymurray2024
Trey showed a lot of compassion and grit while on the court. He is a fiery competitor that gets after it on both ends of the floor. He is a downhill attacking guard that can finish at the rim and has some crafty ways of doing so. He is a talented scorer that does not force the issue but stays within the flow of what the team is trying to accomplish each possession. He is at his best when he is out in the open floor pushing the rock and has the freedom to be a playmaker with the ball in his hands. His straight-line speed is good but could be better, yet he knows how to get to his spots on the court in order to create his shot or create for his teammates. There is a lot to like about Trey’s game, and the biggest thing is his ability to get his own shot at any moment. Having a player that you can call on and say go get a bucket and he produces is extremely valuable, and Trey brings that for Heart N’ Hustle.
What made him a Gamechanger:
According to the score sheet, trey had 13 huge second-half points, helping his team stay within striking distance of Team Trilogy. With one of their guards dealing with an injury and his squad needing points, Trey stepped up and provided scoring in key moments of the game, sparking runs that almost changed the game’s momentum and outcome.