DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — On a hot Saturday afternoon, top seeded Da Villanz (22-2) prevailed three games to one over second-seeded Liquid Halo (15-9) to take the Skid Row 3 on 3 basketball league championship.

As could be expected at the end of a long season, emotions quickly ran high on the court and in the stands. Points made and fouls (not) called were points of contention. Despite the talk and tempers, though, order prevailed.

League commissioner O.G. Man created the Skid Row 3 on 3 league with an aim toward teaching participants how to work within the rules of life. The league's motto reads: "It's more than a game."

“How are you gonna handle what a boss tells you to do?" said O.G. during an extended timeout between game two and three. “The ref makes the call, and you don’t like it. What does that teach these men? Life is not always fair, but you have to keep going.”

All four contests were close, with Da Villanz winning game one 15-10, game two 15-11, falling short of game three 15-13, and getting game four 16-6 on a two point jump shot. The contest took place on the new recycled-rubber court at Gladys Park, just re-opened at the end of December.