NBA LIVE Challenge Update

January 28, 2009

Welcome to the 2009 NBA Live Challenge bought to you by the folks here at EA SPORTS. This year's NBA Live Challenge returns in search of the best NBA Live gamers around the country.  We will travel to 11 regional stops as one finalist from each city will travel to NBA ALL-STAR weekend in Phoenix, AZ for a chance at $20,000 cash and a $5,000 shopping spree with our official retail sponsor Best Buy. 

The EA SPORTS Live Gossip Wire is also back by request to bring you authentic quotes as Commissioner Mike Brown will bring you Q and A coverage with each regional winner.

Indianapolis, IN. (Circle Center)

Indianapolis Live Wire:

"Who is this dude?" screamed EA SPORTS Emcee, Curly Topp during the Indy regional championship game.  Virtually unknown on the tournament scene but no stranger to NBA Live, ranked No. 3 online, Trace "Kilirugi" Kieliszewski remained in stealth mode during the Indy regional.  While players like, 2008 NBA Live runner up D-San, Wakka and J Sticks drew most of the attention from attendees. Kilirugi quietly advanced to the championship game to face tournament favorite D-San.



In one of the most exciting regional finals thus far this year, the game came down to the wire as D-San threw an in-bounds pass to the wrong team with 20 seconds left in the game down by 1 point.  Showing what some considered poor coaching ability, D-San allowed 17 seconds to roll off the clock before intentionally fouling Kilirugi with 3 seconds left.  Taking full advantage of the opportunity, Kilirugi made both of his free throw shots to go up 3.  D-san received the ball with 1.6 seconds on the clock and called a time out at half court, leaving 1.1 seconds in the game.  Unfortunately, it wasn't his day as he missed a 3-point shot to tie the game as the final scored read 63-60.

I spent a few minutes with Kilirugi after the tournament:

Commish: "Lets just get straight to the point, who are you?"

Kilirugi: " I've been playing pretty hard since 07, last year was a little busy for me to make it out to the challenges but, I picked up the game day 1 this year and been online every since."

Commish:  "The stigma is that most online ballers can't compete in live tournaments with all of the pressure distractions going on. What's your secret?"

Kilirugi:  "Well I've been ranked in the top 10 consistently all year, and I'm basically ranked number 1 besides the over rated guys ahead of me.  I've been doing my thing for a few months now going at it real hard.  The 2 guys ranked above me online right now aren't good players in my opinion and I can't wait to take the number one spot."

Commish:  "With no such resume, no one seemed to know who you were, what are you comments about that?"

Kilirugi:  "D-San, Wakka, J Sticks all know me, because I've played all of those guys online, they just didn't know what I looked like because they never saw me in person.  They didn't know who to expect."

Commish:  "Your game with D-San was a nail biter, were you ever nervous about your chances?"

Kilirugi:  "He was basically up the whole game on me but I got a couple of breaks and got lucky at the end of the game with that steal of his in-bounds pass that turned everything around.  At that point, I held the lead and had the clock in my favor.  D-San is definitely a tough player who will be in Phoenix in a few weeks guaranteed!" 

Commish:  "Outside of yourself, whom do you consider to be a favorite to win Phoenix?"

Kilirugi: "I don't mean to disrespect anyone but watch out for Tony aka "Kid Gorgeous" from the East coast.  He's going to be tough to beat.  D-San is going to be tough to beat also, I mean he should have had me today but I thought that he was going to call a time out to in-bound the ball at half court at the end of the game."

Commish:  "Any comments for anyone reading this article?"

Kilirugi:  "Just look out for me in Phoenix because I'm going out there to win the 25 grand.  For all of the guys that have won regional's so far who may not have heard about me, you better watch out because I'm definitely not soft." 

Kilirugi is going to be a force to reckon with in Arizona.  Will the online gamer vs. live tournament gamer stigma continue and who is this Kid Gorgeous guy? 

I'm confident that we will find out soon, just as I'm sure that we haven't seen the last of D-San as he immediately jumped in his car and headed straight for Chicago for another crack at it on Saturday.  Tune in as we head to the windy city, until then...Commissioner Brown...out!

Click here for more information on the NBA LIVE Challenge!