By: Ray Dunne
Tyrese Maxey has won his first championship in Philly.
Playing for FOE in Monday night’s championship, the Sixers’ point guard dazzled in front of a packed Tom Gola Arena. Energized by a second-quarter run led by Maxey & Marcus Morris, FOE locked up the 2022 Rumph Classic title game with a 117-111 victory over Blue Magic.
👀 @TyreseMaxey (34p), @zai_joe1 (16p) & @MookMorris2 (29p | MVP) led FOE to the @RumphClassic title Monday night! pic.twitter.com/N6Kp51nz5U
— NBA (@NBA) August 9, 2022
After a quiet first quarter, Maxey exploded for 18 of his 34 points in the second quarter. Using a combination of stepback threes and his trademark speed, the young guard had emcee GheeFunny reminding folks that’s what an NBA player looks like.
Fellow Sixer Isaiah Joe joined him on the FOE squad and scored 16 points, including a trio of three pointers.
All damn year please @TyreseMaxey @zai_joe1 pic.twitter.com/pKi7nEAFGc
— Rumph Classic (@RumphClassic) August 9, 2022
Not to be outdone on his own team, Marcus Morris dropped 29 en route to being named the 2022 Rumph Classic MVP.
His 24 first half points reached deep into his bag, knocking down jumpers from beyond, midrange and taking defenders to the hoop.
4th Rumph chip
Only player in Rumph history to win 2 tourney MVPs
The 2022 Rumph Classic MVP: Marcus Morris @MookMorris2 pic.twitter.com/Ket4SiMxHU— Rumph Classic (@RumphClassic) August 9, 2022
Despite the defeat, Blue Magic had its way in the second half. Paced by Brandon Austin’s (32 points) relentless attack on the offensive end, the underdogs stayed in the game.
Alongside Austin, Scootie Randall (24 points) Mike Cuffee (nine points) and were major players in a second half that favored Blue Magic. The Blue Magic outscored FOE 64-49 in the second half, causing the crowd to sweat a little more than normal in the gym’s humid atmosphere.
In the end, a pair of young Sixers and the Morris twins were too much to handle. Maxey and Joe hoisted a trophy in a scene that Sixers fans can only hope mirrors next June.
