By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

DEFENDING champion Grace Christian Academy regained its bearings in a 42-24 victory against Whispering Palms in the boys’ middle school division of the Coalition of Private Schools basketball tournament yesterday.
The GCA Eagles, who bowed to Mt. Carmel in their early rematch last Thursday, 15-58, limited Whispering Palms to three points in the second and third quarters en route to an easy win.
The victory improved GCA’s record to 2-1. It won its debut game against the Seventh Day Adventists on Jan. 22.
The loss was Whispering Palms third in a row. It dropped its opening game against the MCS Knights on Jan. 22 at the MCS court. The second defeat was against Saipan Community School on Whispering Palms’ own turf.
Lester Vertudez, R. Sarmiento and Alwyn Dimaano led GCA’s triumph combining for half the Eagles’ total output.
Vertudez scored nine, while Sarmiento and Dimaano chipped in six markers apiece.
Dimaano and Vertudez drilled nine of the Eagles total points in the first quarter to give the defending champion a 14-6 lead.
Whispering Palms’ misfortunes continued in the second quarter, as they scored only three points and the Eagles took a 24-9 halftime lead.
Whispering Palms again struggled offensively at the start of the second half having another 3-point performance in the third quarter.
The final period started with GCA leading at 30-12, and although Whispering Palms started finding their range in the fourth quarter scoring 12, the Eagles’ 18-point lead at the end of the third canto was enough to secure the win.
Whispering Palms hopes to end its losing streak when it faces SDA tomorrow on its homecourt in Navy Hills.
Other games set for tomorrow are Mt. Carmel versus Marianas Baptist Academy in the boys’ division on the Storz court and SCS and Saipan International School in both the girls and boys’ divisions on the SCS court.
Scores:
GCA 42—Vertudez 9, Sarmiento 6, Dimaano 6, Dela Cruz 5, Mamaril 4, Moran 4, Kim 4, Tse 2, Salas 2.
Whispering Palms 24—L. Knecht 8, Baron 4, Brostrom 4, R. Knecht 4, Staal 2.
Quarterscores: 14-6, 24-9, 30-12, 42-24