Vipers Clinch Playoff Berth

MCALLEN, TEXAS – The defending NBA DevelopmentLeague champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers are heading to the playoffs for thesecond consecutive year and playoff tickets go on sale on Monday at 10:00 a.m.

“We’re very pleased and proud to make the playoffsin consecutive years, but with the goals and the standards we have set forourselves, the playoffs are just the beginning of what we hope to accomplish,” Vipershead coach Chris Finch said.

Tickets can be purchased through the Vipers atthe Vipers Pro-Shop at Uptown Plaza in McAllen or by calling 972-1144. Ticketscan also be purchased online through Ticketmaster via rgvipers.com, at theState Farm Arena box office, by calling Ticketmaster or at any Ticketmasteroutlet. A complete list of Ticketmaster outlets in the Rio Grande Valley can befound at rgvipers.com.

Playoff tickets are the same price as regularseason tickets, starting at just $7.

The Vipers clinched the berth when the SiouxFalls Skyforce beat the Texas Legends 99-96 in overtime last night at Dr PepperArena in Frisco. This guaranteed that the Legends couldn’t catch the Vipers inthe standings. Three teams can finish tied with the Vipers if the Vipers loseout and they win out – the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Austin Toros and Idaho Stampede.The Toros and Stampede have two games left against each other, meaning thatonly one of them can win out to catch the Vipers. Should the Vipers, Mad Antsand Toros all finish 28-22, the Toros will clinch the #7 seed by virtue oftaking the aggregate head-to-head series with the Vipers and Mad Ants 6-to-4.The Vipers would then clinch the #8 seed by virtue of winning the head-to-headseries with the Mad Ants, 1-to-0. Should the Vipers, Mad Ants and Stampede allfinish 28-22, the Stampede will clinch the #7 seed by virtue of taking theaggregate head-to-head series with the Vipers and Mad Ants 3-to-1. The Viperswould then clinch the #8 seed by virtue of winning the head-to-head series withthe Mad Ants, 1-to-0.

If only the Mad Ants win out and the Vipers loseout, the Vipers would finish as the #7 seed. If only the Stampede or Toros winout and the Vipers lose out, the Vipers would finish as the #8 seed.

Last season the Vipers won the WesternConference Championship and entered the playoffs as the #2 seed with a recordof 34-16. The Vipers beat the Reno Bighorns in three games in theQuarterfinals, the Toros in three games in the Semifinals and the Tulsa 66ersin two games in the Finals. The Vipers are currently half of one game behindthe 66ers for first place in the Western Conference standings. With a record of28-12, the Vipers have the third best record in the league. Eight of theVipers’ final ten games come at home at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, where theVipers are currently 12-4.