Streetball Episode 5: Ballislife East Coast Squad Will get TESTED in Alabama

Do not miss out on Episode 5 of Streetball: The Untold Tales of Basketball Stars! Be sure you try all of the segments on Ballislife’s foremost YouTube Channel.  Unique to members, this documentary is without doubt one of the most extremely produced tasks Ballislife has ever crafted.

Launched each weekend, episodes one and two explored the historical past of streetball, together with the trials and tribulations of the East Coast Squad. Episode 3 dials in Kyrie Irving’s “Greater than a Run” invite in New Jersey, that includes Nasir Core and the East Coast Squad. Episode 4 dropped final week, which highlighted Irving’s 1v1 match for five,000!

Episode 1: The historical past of streetball— watch right here!
Episode 2: East Coast Squad— watch right here!
Episode 3: Nasir Core + East Coast at Kyrie Irving’s New Jersey Occasion—watch right here!
Episode 4: Kyrie Irving’s 1v1 5k match—watch right here!

Setting the Stage for the Rematch

The countdown is on till the second matchup between the West and East Coast Squads. With the date set for Sept. 22, the showdown will happen in Venice Seashore, California.

Matt Rodriguez, CEO and Co-Founding father of Ballislife, opens the fifth version detailing the historic significance and affect of streetball in Venice Seashore. That includes acknowledged courts worldwide, the film “White Males Cannot Leap” is what made it a well-known location. Whereas Venice Seashore stays a longtime streetball hub, Ballislife continues to contribute to the tradition and group.

How Brandon Moss Earned the Title “BodyBag”

This chapter focuses on West Coast Squad Brandon Moss, “BodyBag”, alongside along with his upbringing and basketball journey. A local of Birmingham, Alabama, BodyBag emphasizes the significance of household, particularly his mom. This phase highlights his Sunday household gatherings, which embrace his mom, aunts, youngsters, and different family members.

Basketball has been his lifeline, offering construction and positivity amid tough instances. Having grown up in Birmingham, town is described as harmful, violent. As well as, BodyBag says it was so harsh that children hardly ever play basketball outdoors.  Regardless of his abilities, Moss admits to a number of arrests, together with shoplifting at Walmart and avenue fights. For him, promoting stolen meals was a strategy to reside, to earn cash—it was a method of survival.

Calling town “depraved,” Physique Bag recounts his survival story, which is able to go away you speechless. From being held at gunpoint to incarceration, he is defied the chances. Whereas his total kin hails from Alabama, his mom is elated that he escaped Birmingham.

From adversity to success, BodyBag made it to the G League’s South Bay Lakers after faculty. Lower on account of lack of expertise, Moss continued to pursue his basketball goals.  He additionally acknowledges the NBA’s connection to politics, which led him to play abroad in Chile, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, and China.

How Did BodyBag Attain Ballislife?

This week’s episode options BodyBag’s long-term girlfriend, Claire, who expresses her assist and persistently praises Brandon. Even from a distance whereas he was abroad, Claire caught by his aspect and ultimately introduced him to Venice once they moved from Florida to California. Transferring for extra alternatives, his profession took off, finally acknowledged, and given the nickname “BodyBag” by streetball MC, J.C. Mouthpiece Thompson.

Incomes a popularity as a fan favourite, BodyBag is broadly identified for his spotlight dunks, athleticism, and entertaining skills. Whereas he initially sought out a possibility to play for the East Coast, the squad already had a solidified 5 that drew in raving viewership. Whereas it was certainly a  missed alternative, Duke Skywalka (East Coast) feels BodyBag would’ve been a extra appropriate match with the East, given the type of play and setting.

Finally, BodyBag was picked up by the West Coast Squad with the assistance of Ty Glover, Duke, and Frank Nitty. From there, the remainder is historical past, and Claire says Ballislife has modified their lives.

East Coast Squad Takeover in Alabama

Episode 5 continues to observe BodyBag, who will participate within the East Coast takeover since he is visiting household in Alabama.

The takeover is held at BodyBags’s outdated stomping grounds, Midfield Excessive College, the place he received a championship. Without end etched on the partitions with the 2012 staff, Moss talks concerning the challenges of surviving a faculty with low commencement charges and steel detectors on the entrance.

Together with his total household in attendance on the takeover, BodyBag earned a win for the East Squad, however sat out the remaining two video games. Encouraging the staff to play with out him, his absence is a focus, because the East misplaced a 5v5-style matchup.

A number of teammates praised his toughness, athleticism, protection, and rebounding—did the East actually miss their probability by rejecting BodyBag? Whereas a number of West Coast members acknowledge the East has improved, they really feel the “new staff” was assembled to defeat the West. In different phrases, the East picked up dimension, which Tori Brooks, “Bionic,” calls unfair.

Whether or not the East can match the West by added ability and dimension, the episode ends with a 20-day countdown to a rematch. The West has sturdy, developed chemistry with a core roster of Frank Nitty, Cezar Guerrero “Ceez the Second”, Marcus Bell “Monstar”, and Bionic. Provided that the East misplaced a takeover, how will they fare in 20 days? Will they get their redemption in a conflict towards a stacked West squad?

The anticipation is constructing with 20 days left till sport 2. After 4 episodes discover streetball historical past, private tales, and matchups, Episode 5 units the stage for the East vs. West Coast rematch in Venice Seashore. Keep tuned for Episode 6. 

Observe Sara Jane Gamelli on X: @SaraJGamelli.