Inside the Fresno Flight
The Fresno Flight are pending new ownership stay tuned!!!
WINNING THE SMALL WAY…THE ABA IS MORE THAN JUST A GAME
Fresno , CA. The new expansion ABA Fresno Flight played their inaugural games against the veteran Sacramento Heatwave last weekend and won consecutive games over a ranked team. But the way they did it was what made these games special.
Surf Fall Short In Comeback Effort against Fresno Flight, 110-121
November 17, 2012/San Diego, CA By Henry Fuentes Jr.Antonio “Duke” Odum caught on fire early Saturday night and was unable to be put out as he dropped 40 points on the #6 ranked San Diego Surf in a winning effort by Fresno Flight, who remained undefeated and improved their record to 4-0.Both teams, the San Diego Surf and Fresno Flight, came into the game presenting a battle of two Top-10 ranked ABA teams. The San Diego Surf, having came off a successful season and summer this year, were ranked #8 in the ABA until a week one win vs. the Orange County Novastars bumped them up two spots to #6. The Fresno Flight, who have already played 3 games this season, have been an offensive powerhouse, earning their #9 ranking.The 1st quarter was dominated offensively by Fresno, as they jumped out to an early 14-2 lead just within the first 4 minutes of the game. San Diego, who had played full court defense well against Orange County, were ineffective in their efforts to cause trouble in Fresno’s offensive rhythm and were unable to get a handle in the 1st quarter, as they started the game down 20-33. Fresno’s primary scorer, Antonio “Duke” Odum, was a big contributor to Fresno’s production as he was flawless from mid-range and beyond the arc.The 2nd quarter wasn’t much different either. Fresno guards Jonathan Hewitt and Derrick Randolph were also key in Fresno’s scoring efficiency as they both took turns carrying the scoring load toward the end of the first half. San Diego continued to struggle defensively as Fresno’s backcourt kept applying pressure and pushing the ball hard. San Diego at one point was down by as much as 30 in the 2nd quarter, but were able to make a run and cut the Fresno lead down to 19, as they trailed at halftime 44-63.After an embarrassing 1st half performance by San Diego, and a spotless offensive attack by Fresno, it almost seemed like the game was close to being over. However, San Diego still had a lot of energy left and the 3rd quarter proved what kind of abilities the well-coached San Diego Surf had. Right out the gate, San Diego’s defensive intensity was noticeably different and their attitude coming out transferred to turnovers and stops. San Diego guards Keoni Watson and Marquis Navarre were able to get easy points in transition, and as the Fresno defense fell asleep at the wheel, San Diego was able to capitalize. The Surf’s increased defense and offensive intensity made it a game again, as Fresno ended the 3rd quarter only up by 8, 87-79.San Diego continued their inspired play and continued their impressive run to climb back into the game throughout the 4th quarter. However, Fresno forward, Duke Odum, was unable to be maintained. When San Diego brought the game as close as 85-89, Duke Odum put Fresno on his back and with the help of Derrick Randolph and Johnathan Hewitt, Fresno was able to run away with the win, after San Diego came back from as much as a 30-pt deficit. Duke Odum, Johnathan Hewitt, and Derrick Randolph combined for 97 points total as the Fresno Flight remained unbeaten in a 121-110 win over the San Diego Surf.
The Quite Storm
FRESNO, CA. – The new expansion ABA Fresno Flight have taken off with an impressive 3-0 start in the second week of play in So Cal Division. The talent level on the team is surprising but the biggest surprise has been the performance from 6-7 F/C Jerante Morgan. Moving in silence he has quietly been doing what leads to success on the court. Morgan is averaging 17 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks per game. He is 25 years old, played at Fresno Pacific College and is from Greenville, SC.
“I was unfamiliar with him the players put him on the team. They called me one night and said we have to have him.”
The Fresno Flights next game will be on Saturday November 17th at 8:30pm against the #6 ranked San Diego Surf in San Diego.
The Fresno Flight website is www.Fresnoflightbasketball.com or contact Oscar Robinson (559) 704-1369.
Indianapolis, IN. The American Basketball Association (ABA_ www.abalive.com today released its Power Rankings for the week ending November 4th and the defending champion Jacksonville Giants maintained the top position closely followed by the Arizona Scorpions and South Carolina Warriors. “Even though these three teams have yet to play, based on their past performance, we still believe they are the top 3 teams in the ABA. The biggest movers this week were the Atlanta Wildcats, Fresno Flight and San Diego SURF,” stated Joe Newman, ABA CEO. “And with a full slate of games this coming weekend, we should see some big changes again.”
Fresno Pacific College star forward Craig Ash and ABA leading scorer Antonio Odom sign with Flight
We are busy planning and booking a variety of major artist to entertain all of the Fresno Flight fans for our half-time concert series…
—————————————————————–
Fresno Flight workout scheduled with NBA Developmental League coach for August in Bakerfield!!!
—————————————————————–
UBC-TV NETWORK AND ABA SIGN DEAL TO TELEVISE GAMES NATIONALLY
New York, NY. Urban Broadcasting Company (UBC-TV) www.urbantvnetwork.com today announced that it has signed an initial deal to televise a minimum of ten (10) American Basketball Association (ABA) www.abalve.com games starting in November as well as the ABA Championship Series and ABA All-Star Game.
UBC-TV Network is a new urban lifestyle cable network that has national cable and satellite deals in place that will put the programming in over 50 million households. UBC-TV Network will produce original content that will be distributed over multiple platforms which will include cable, VOD, online, set-top boxes, mobile, wireless-devices, social media and other platforms. UBC-TV is projected to launch late summer 2012.
The ABA is the largest professional sports league in the US with nearly 90 teams set to play next season which begins in mid-November. The ABA is also the most diversified professional sports league ever with nearly 75% of its teams owned by African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians and women. Playing with the red, white and blue ball introduced in the original ABA that featured Julius “Dr. J” Erving, George Gervin, Spencer Haywood, Moses Malone and other legends, teams are made up of former NBA players, NCAA Division 1& 2 players and international players and provide exciting professional basketball at affordable prices.
“The ABA televised games will establish a new paradigm in professional sports television with the true fusion of musical entertainment with sports,” stated UBC-TV CEO Peggy Dodson. “ABA games are the most exciting basketball games on TV with their unique rules and full court play – a combination of the best of the NBA, NCAA and international basketball, plus ABA ball all wrapped up in one package. And when you add the musical entertainment that we’ll be featuring, it will be like watching an exciting Broadway show. There’ll be nothing like it anywhere. We are very excited to be partnering with the ABA.”
“When you turn on your TV, you certainly have a lot of options from which to choose for entertainment, news and sports,” added Joe Newman, ABA CEO. “UBC-TV recognizes the competition and has put together a programming format that should have huge appeal combining entertainment, news and sports with an “out of the box” approach that will make it a very popular network with a diverse audience of people of all ages.
We are pleased to be a part of it and will make watching ABA games a very enjoyable experience.”
The featured games will honor and raise funds for major not-for-profit organizations like Breast Cancer Awareness, Wounded Warriors, Diabetes, Kidney Foundation, Boys & Girls Clubs, Warrior Stay Program (VSSN), and others. “We will make a difference,” added Dodson. “This is integral to our mission of being a powerful voice in the communications industry.”
For more information, contact Peggy Dodson at info@ubctvnetwork.com or call 212 479 7837 or Joe Newman atconniejoenewman@aol.com or call 317 844 7502. Websites are www.ubctvnetwork.com and www.abalive.com.
Set Free TV will be taking an inside look Friday Night at Fresno’s New ABA Basketball Team the Fresno Flight, at 9:00 PM PST, on CMAC Comcast/Xfinity Channel 96 & AT&T U-Verse Channel 99. Also Mz. Roshell (Franky-D Entertainment) will be sitting down with WE TV Reality Star Towanda Braxton for an Exclusive Interview on Set Free TV. Watch it here in Central Cali or here streaming online at http://www.facebook.com/setfreetv
Fresno businessman resurrects b-ball team
- Published on 05/25/2012 – 10:19 am
- Written by Clay Moffitt
fresno-flightThe American Basketball Association will once again have a franchise in Fresno, when the Fresno Flight take the court for the 2012-13 season.
The Fresno Heatwave played in the league for three years before the franchise moved to Sacramento for the 2006-07 season.
Edison High graduate Oscar Robinson, who also owns KO Wireless and Expresstax Tax Services in Fresno, bought the franchise rights and will field a team next year.
“The market was open and the interest is still here,” Robinson said. “There are a lot of fans in Fresno.”
A number of different gyms in Fresno will serve as the Flight’s home court, including the Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission gym near the intersection of California and Elm avenues.
The team will be coached by former Fresno State assistant Sherman Holmes, who also previously served as director for the Heatwave.
“We are very pleased to be returning to Fresno,” said ABA CEO Joe Newman, in a release. “It was an excellent ABA city before and it will be again under the leadership of Oscar Robinson, a man with a love of basketball and a great flair for business and promotion. This should be one exciting team.
The Flight will compete in the Southern California Conference against the Heatwave and the Central Valley Titans, based out of Exeter. Other teams in the conference include the Arizona Scorpions, Los Angeles Slam, Riverside Rainmakers, So Cal Swish, San Diego Sol and San Diego Surf.
The ABA allows teams to sign celebrity players, as in the case when NCAA Final Four legend Christian Laettner played six games with the Jacksonville Giants earlier this year. Former NBA champion Dennis Rodman has also played in the league in the past.
Robinson could not confirm any names, but he said the team will bring in some celebrities.
“Let your imagination flow,” Robinson said. “What if Chris Herren played in our first game?”
However, Robinson could not confirm whether Herren will actually suit up for the Flight at any time in the future.
The players will be paid and the team will be holding tryouts on May 26 at 4 p.m. at the Frank H. Ball Community Center, located at 760 Mayor Ave. Interested players must preregister at KO Wireless at 4770 E. Clinton Ave. Ste. 106. For more information, visit fresnoflightbasketball.com.
After the tryouts, the Flight will play an exhibition game against local celebrities on June 30 at Fresno City College.
