By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

FOUR schools battle for supremacy in middle school basketball, as the 2007 Coalition of Private Schools holds two championship matches today at the Gilbert C. Ada Gym.
Grace Christian Academy collides with Saipan International School for the girls’ championship, while Mt. Carmel School and Marianas Baptist Academy square off for the boys’ division title.
The Lady Geckos are this year’s defending champions and earned a return trip to the finals after beating Saipan Community School in the semis last Wednesday, 28-17.
The GCA Eagles earned an automatic finals berth after sweeping the regular season.
MBA grabbed the first finals ticket in the boys’ division after slipping past erstwhile champion GCA in the semis, 52-51, last Wednesday.
The Stormz and the Eagles advanced to the semis after defeating the Seventh Day Adventist and Whispering Palms, respectively, in the first round of the playoffs last Tuesday
Mt. Carmel notched the second and last finals berth after whipping Saipan Community School in the semis last Wednesday.
The MCS Knights are hoping to claim the championship trophy that they missed when they lost to the Eagles in last year’s finals.
The Knights automatically moved to the semifinal round after topping the regular season with an undefeated record.
Before losing to Mt. Carmel, the SCS Tsunamis won against the SIS Geckos in the first round of the playoffs.
After the championship games, a brief award ceremony will be held with organizers recognizing the top individual performers in the middle school caging.
Once the middle school champions are crowned, organizers will start the high school basketball tournament next week.