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Gary Forbes' team trailed by 14 points midway through the fourth quarter, the atmosphere in the gym had gone flat and nobody would've faulted the Denver Nuggets swingman if he packed it in, got ready for his first vacation in five years.

Instead, Forbes treated the Fireball championship Sunday at Baruch College in lower Manhattan like it was an NBA tryout. He put together a memorable 25-point fourth quarter with ferocious drives to the hoop, jumpers, offensive rebounds and put-backs, steals, trips to the free throw line as X-Men rallied for a thrilling 127-126 win over Bingo's All-Stars.

"When I'm on the court, I always feel like I'm one of the best players on the court," he said. "I always have that confidence."

It's that relentless mindset that has propelled the 25-year-old Forbes into the NBA after a meandering career that included two high schools, two colleges and stints in the NBADL and overseas in the Philippines, Italy, Venezuela and Italy.

"It was my deram since I was little kid, everybody knows I just work hard, it's ataetmnet to working hard and not giving up, just dedication trying to get your dream," he said.

Forbes, a rugged 6-foot-7, 220-pound wing, finally made it last winter with Denver. He averaged 10.1 points per game during the preseason and stuck the whole year, tallying 5.2 per game in 63 appearances (11 starts) and even saw minutes in the postseason.

"He's an NBA player," New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony told reporters then, as a member of the Nuggets. "He's got an NBA body, a guy who's willing to learn. He's just a good addition to the team."

True to his nature, Forbes didn't celebrate the accomplishment; no he was back at Denver's training complex shortly after the first-round loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder feverishly working at his game even though the looming NBA Lockout could delay what now seems like an extremely bright future.

"Whenever the season does start, I'll be ready," said Forbes, a restricted free agent who received a one-year qualifying offer from the team.

And when the former All-City talent at Banneker and 2007-08 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year at UMass came back home to Brooklyn, he didn't rest, either – playing with X-Men at Fireball, a league featuring many local stars still looking to make it like Forbes has.

"The best players in the world always work when everybody else isn't working," he said. "I'm trying to model myself after them, the Kobe Bryants and Michael Jordans of the world."

In many ways, the Fireball championship followed the same path as his career. He's never been that flashy star, never been a dead-on marksman from the perimeter or highlight film producer, but was always successful. Forbes led Banneker to a PSAL Class B championship and the 2003 PSAL Class A title game, a loss to Lincoln and Sebastian Telfair, and enjoyed a standout two-year career at UMass after transferring from Virginia.

He's like a fine wine, getting better the longer you watch him, which was true in the Fireball championship game.

He kept on pushing, getting to the rim and the free-throw line, pushing like has to finally make the league. The final result was successful, Forbes leading X-Men to the crown.

After the title, he said he's finally ready to relax somewhat. Before participating in the FIBA Americans Championships in Argentina in late August, he will take a week-long vacation to Hawaii. It, of course, won't be all relaxation, however. Forbes plans to bring his basketball.

"I'm still gonna do some workouts and do something productive," he said. "I play basketball all year round."