By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

MARIANAS Baptist Academy had a walk in the park in its debut game in the Coalition of Private Schools boys’ high school basketball tournament as the Stormz pounded Northern Marianas Academy, 60-17, last Tuesday at the MBA court in Dandan.
A deeper bench helped the Stormz easily beat the Stingrays. MBA has more than 15 players in its lineup, while the Stingrays have less than 10.
Wilbert Fejeran led MBA’s debut win scoring 14 points, while Soo Young Chang chipped in 12. Each player coach Ric Alegre fielded in the game found ways to score.
In contrast, offense was a problem for the depleted Stingrays.
Only Kai Aldan scored in double figures for NMA with 10 points. Yoshida and Wei were the only two other Stingrays to get on the scoreboard nailing five and two markers, respectively.
The Stormz held NMA to five points in the first quarter to take a 12-point lead, 17-5.
The Stingrays’ offense was even worse in the second period, as they only had two points and MBA ended the first half with a 32-7 advantage.
Only Aldan scored in the third quarter with three points, while MBA drew enough contributions from Fejeran, Chang, Charlie Jo, Densio Manglona and Norman Chan to enter the fourth quarter with a 48-10 lead.
The Stormz never looked back from thereon.
MBA will go for back-to-back wins as it meet last year’s runnerup Mt. Carmel School at the Stormz homecourt.
The Lady Stormz will also challenge the Lady Knights before the men’s game.
Grace Christian Academy takes on defending champion Saipan International School in the girls’ division.
The boys’ and girls’ high school basketball tournament will have a double-elimination format in the regular season. The playoffs, which will run from May 9 to 11 have a single-elimination format.
Only MBA, MCS and SIS have teams in both the boys’ and girls’ division. NMA has only a boys’ squad, while GCA, which topped last year’s boys’ division, is only fielding the Lady Eagles in the annual tournament.
Scores:
MBA 60—Fejeran 14, Chang 12, J. Lee 9, Jo 7, Cabrera 4, D. Lee 4, R. Lee 4, N. Chan 4, Manglona 2.
NMA 17—Aldan 10, Yoshida 5, Wei 2.
Quarterscorse: 17-5, 32-7, 48-10, 60-17