Let’s be real for a minute here; Huarache is absolutely loaded. They killed it all season long in the Uptown Conference, and they’re deservedly considered the favorite to win the title. Two weeks ago, Huarache took down Generation in the semi-finals…without their best player. The roster is loaded with some of the finest talent NRF has to offer. And when Huarache takes the floor at Madison Square Garden tonight, most of the crowd will expect the Men in Black to come out on top, as they have all season.

We could talk about LeKeith Taylor’s importance to the frontcourt, the deadly Huarache backcourt, or Roscoe’s versatility on both ends of the floor. But instead, how about we focus on perhaps the most important but least talked about player in tonight’s match-up: Eric Raymundo.

In the aforementioned semifinal against Generation, Huarache slogged through an unimpressive first half. But when Raymundo entered the game late in the first frame, his shooting touch was of immediate benefit to Huarache’s pace. He quickly stroked a three-pointer and another jumper in the final minutes to help Huarache to a five-point lead.

But it was in the second half where Raymundo’s importance to the team was on full display. Huarache uncharacteristically blew a 21-point lead, and for awhile, it looked like Generation might be on the verge of a comeback for the ages. In a game that never should have come down to free throws, Huarache had a decision to make on any and every inbounds play: who should get the inbounds pass? The answer, each and every time, was Eric Raymundo.

Even with his team on the verge of collapse, Raymundo headed to the line looking confident and at ease. The result? Perfection. Six straight made free throws in three trips to the charity stripe. Even with Generation chomping at the bit, Raymundo calmed the nerves of everyone in the gym whenever he was at the line.

Tonight’s match-up is an interesting one, to say the least. Uptempo, gunning for their third straight title, boasts arguably the best player in the league (Scott Williams). And even against a deep Huarache roster, Uptempo has experience and championship talent to lean on. But if Eric Raymundo’s at the stripe with the game on the line, a new NRF Champion will be crowned tonight at Madiston Square Garden: Team Huarache.

- Camron Ghorbi