By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

THE Manta Rays of Saipan Southern High School swept Mt. Carmel in the regular season of the MISA High School Basketball League after a 68-61 victory last Friday at the Marianas High School Gym.
But unlike their first meeting, at which the Knights bowed easily to Southern, 60-74, Mt. Carmel gave the Manta Rays a good fight in the second meeting. After trailing by as many as 14 points in the early part of the second quarter, Mt. Carmel managed to move within one, 50-51.
With Jon Tilipao drilling 12 of his 16 points in the third period, Southern entered the fourth quarter with a 10-point lead, 51-41.
But the Knights held the Rays scoreless for more than four minutes, while Steven Kim scored seven of Mt. Carmel’s first nine points to bring his team back into the game.
Kim drilled a layup and after a Southern miss, Aitau Barcinas nailed an undergoal stab to move the Knights within six, 45-51.
Southern missed anew in its offensive play and Kim converted on a coast-to-cast drive to cut the lead to four, 47-51.
After another Manta Rays’s miss, Kim rushed to their frontcourt and connected on a triple on top of the key cutting Southern’s lead to one, 50-51, with 6:53 left on the clock.
Despite his team’s being on the verge of a collapse, Southern coach Joel Punzalan did not press the panic button. He did not call a timeout and let his wards continue playing.
“My boys are trained for this kind of situation. They know what to do,” Punzalan said.
He was right, as the Rays answered with a killer 13-0 run to regain control of the game leading comfortably by 14, 64-50, with 3:25 left on the clock.
Southern veterans Bill Babauta and Mike Eclevia did the job for the Rays with the former’s crucial baskets and the latter’s hustle play.
Babauta had five points in that run. Eclevia chipped in four, but his most valuable contribution was on defense, as he forced two jumpballs and had a couple of steals.
Babauta broke Southern’s silence nailing a basket in the shaded lane off an inbound pass from Ernest Duenas and drawing a foul from Kim.
Babauta completed the 3-point play giving the Rays a 54-50 lead, going into the last six minutes of the match.
After a MCS miss, Eclevia was fouled and made two free throws. The Southern guard then picked Joseph White’s pocket and threw a pass to Tilipao, who was home free for a layup.
Eclevia had another brilliant defensive play when he completed a steal from Thomas Kim in front of the Knight’s bench. Eclevia tapped the ball, Thomas tried to pick it up, but was a second late, as the former dove for the ball and successfully stole it. Eclevia then sprinted to their frontcourt and nailed a layup giving Southern a 60-50 advantage, with 4:30 left on the clock.
Eclevia went back on defense and harassed the Mt. Carmel point guard. MCS eventually lost the ball and Babauta got it rushing to their frontcourt and went for a slam, but jumped a few inches short of the rim and missed.
Duenas was there to grab the offensive rebound and drilled a basket that gave Southern a 62-50 advantage, with 3:43 left in the game.
Mt. Carmel for the nth time faltered on their offensive set returning possession to Southern. After the Knights touched the ball last before it went out, Eclevia inbounded the ball and signaled a play. The Rays’ guard threw a bounce pass to Babauta, who was a step away from the basket and scored another two points increasing Southern’s lead to 14, 64-50, with 3:25 remaining in the match.
Steven Kim made a 3-point play when the possession returned to Mt. Carmel ending the Knights’ more than three minutes of silence.
But Kim was too late the hero as the Rays still led by 11, 64-53, going into the last 2:30 of the game.
The Rays are still unbeaten after four games.
“Sometimes it is good to let your players experience a threat after a big lead. It will help them mature and learn from their mistakes,” Punzalan said.
Meanwhile, the Lady Knights gave Mt. Carmel something to be proud of as they cruised to their third win in four games with a 64-44 victory against the Lady Rays.
It was the Lady Knights second win against the Southern girls in as many games this season.
Scores:
Girls
MCS 64—Lebria 26, Ta 8, Calvo 7, Castro 6, De Brum 5, Takai 5, Villacrusis 4, Manalo 3.
SSHS 44—Cabrera 15, Echang 7, Maratita 4, Jacob 4, Villagomez 5, Aldan 2, Kaipat 2, Sikyang 2.
Quarterscores: 20-8, 34-19, 52, 30, 64-44
Boys
SSHS 68—Basa 16, Tilipao 16, Babauta 10, Eclevia 8, Taitano 6, Duenas 6, Echon 4, Blesoch 3, Masga 2.
MCS 61—S. Kim 25, T. Kim 17, Salas 9, Barcinas 7, Aquino 2, White 1.
Quarterscores: 15-8, 26-22, 51-41, 68-61