Providence Suffers Playoff Loss Against the Bulldogs
Jake Berger
April 11,, 2024
April 11, 2024 (Providence, RI) - After defeating the Coney Island Thunder in the ABA Elite 8, the Pirates looked to their next opponent, the Binghamton Bulldogs.
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The Bulldogs were 19-4 this season and finished as the #15 ranked team in the ABA Power Rankings while the Pirates headed into the game riding a 17 game winning streak.
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Both the Bulldogs and Pirates were battling with each other all night as the Bulldogs had the edge heading into halftime where they led the Pirates 58 to 56. Both team held on throughout the entirety of the game not letting one or the other to gain a large lead.
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With time coming down to the wire, both teams remained tied at 103-103 heading into overtime and unfortunately, the Pirates took the loss against the Binghamton Bulldogs 111-108 in OT.
Last season, the Bulldogs and Pirates matched up in last years title game where the Pirates prevailed, but this year, the Bulldogs bested the Pirates to win the East Region.
With Providence falling to the Binghamton Bulldogs in overtime this past weekend, the impressive 2023-24 season that the Pirates embarked on has come to an end.
Providence’s season started off quite normal. The team started 3-1 through the first month of the season. Little did everyone know that the Pirates would then start an impressive winning streak that would get to as many as 17 wins in a row. That stretch started all the way back in November of 2023.
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Along with Providence’s impressive 17 game-winning streak, the team won the ABA East Blue Division while going 14-0 versus divisional opponents. With an impressive +344 plus/minus, the team put themselves in a very good position to defeat their foes every night.
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Throughout the teams winning streak, Providence was consistently ranked within the top 25 teams in the ABA, reaching to as high as #1 in the nation heading into the playoffs. This was the Pirates highest ranking in team history.
With the Pirates winning the ABA East Regular Season crown and the Blue Division, the team was slated as the host team for the playoffs as the #1 seed. This was the first time in Providence Pirates team history that the team hosted all East regional playoff games. The Pirates also made it back to the ABA Elite 8 for the second season in a row.
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We also would like to give shout-outs to Tom Garrick Jr, Shane DaRosa, Sercan Fenerci, and Coach Mark Gaffney for winning individual awards during the 2023-24 ABA season.
Tom Garrick Jr and Shane DaRosa were named to the 2023-24 ABA East All-Star team. Garrick Jr and DaRosa were Providence’s two highest scorers at 25.1 PPG and 25.7 PPG respectively. Both Garrick Jr and DaRosa were seen as leaders on the court and both were able to take over any game due to their offensive skills.
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Coach Mark Gaffney was named the 2023-24 East Region Coach of the Year. Coach Gaffney brought the Pirates to back to back ABA Elite 8 Appearances, went 19-2 overall on the season and won the ABA East and Blue Division.
President and CEO, Sercan Fenerci was also named the 2024 East Region Executive of the Year!
We would also like to say THANK YOU one more time to the best fans and sponsors in the ABA! Without your continued support, the Providence Pirates would not be half the organization we are. We welcome everyone back for next season and hope you will come back out and support the team!