Underdogs Stage Fourth-Quarter Surge to Down Boom, 98–94
In a tight quarter-final clash of the SUMMER LEAGUE on October 24, 2025, the UNDERDOGS pulled away late to claim a 98–94 victory over BOOM in Game 1. The contest hung in the balance until the closing exchanges, when a flurry of decisive plays swung the result in favor of the UNDERDOGS.
The story of the night was Gessner Jordan, a force on both ends who finished with 29 points, an astounding 20 rebounds and 7 assists. He shot 11-of-21 from the floor and made all 6 of his free-throws, compiling a game efficiency rating that underlined how central he was to his team's comeback. Gessner Jordan dominated the glass and repeatedly created second-chance opportunities that proved critical in the final quarter.
BOOM's attack was powered by an extraordinary shooting night from Deion Johnson, who poured in 35 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including 9-of-12 from beyond the arc, and added 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Jerome Jones supplied perimeter fire as well, finishing with 26 points on a 7-for-14 night from three-point range, while Chris Rozier and Jonathan Ramirez made significant contributions during stretches when BOOM built and maintained leads.
The UNDERDOGS leaned on multiple contributors. Martinez Jason posted 26 points and 10 rebounds, a constant inside presence throughout the game. Ambrosiani Justin scored 19 and delivered the late scoring touch — including a tying two-pointer and a go-ahead three — that shifted momentum. Veteran wings like Yerandi Baro chipped in with timely buckets and composure at the stripe, helping to close out the sequence that decided the game.
After three quarters that saw seesaw scoring and a 23–23 third period, the UNDERDOGS outscored BOOM 29–20 in the fourth. Defensive adjustments and relentless offensive rebounding — spearheaded by Gessner Jordan’s 7 offensive boards — allowed the UNDERDOGS to convert possessions into points at a crucial moment. BOOM continued to rely on their long-range arsenal, but the UNDERDOGS’ balance and late-game execution ultimately prevailed.
The final minutes unfolded like a microcosm of the entire contest: momentum shifts, clutch shots and rapid responses. Ambrosiani Justin first knotted the game, then shoved his side ahead with a big triple. Deion Johnson answered with his own long-range strike to force another tie, but it was Yerandi Baro who pushed the UNDERDOGS back in front with a driving two, and Ambrosiani Justin soon added a final scoring dagger to seal the 98–94 result.
Statistically, the box score tells a tale of two emphatic individual nights and a team edge in the final period. Gessner Jordan’s rare 20-rebound performance and all-around impact contrasted with Deion Johnson’s prolific scoring; in the end, the UNDERDOGS’ depth and late defensive focus made the difference. With this Game 1 win in the quarter-finals, the series shifts focus to adjustments and counter-adjustments as both teams prepare for the next chapter.
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