By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

DEFENDING champion Saipan Southern High School and Marianas High School advanced to the finals of the MISA High School Basketball League after posting contrasting semis wins last Friday at the MHS Gym.
The MHS Dolphins gained the first finals berth after whipping Kagman High School, 90-68, while the Manta Rays earned a return trip to the championship match after downing Mt. Carmel, 82-71.
The Dolphins recovered from a slow start and used a 12-2 run at the start of the fourth quarter to nail a 22-point victory.
MHS scored only nine points in the first quarter and faced a six-point deficit entering the second period.
But with Ivan De Vero, Jayvan Tarkong and Jericho Cruz finding their marks in the succeeding periods, the Dolphins stole the lead at the end of the third period, 60-51.
Kagman scored the first basket in the fourth quarter with Keoni Chariton nailing a reversed layup, with 9:46 left on the clock. The Ayuyus next basket did not come until the 6:06 mark.
After Chariton’s basket, MHS scored 12 unanswered points to take a 72-53 lead, with 6:20 left in the game.
Jon Ada temporarily stopped the bleeding for Kagman drilling an undergoal stab, but the Dolphins had another run scoring eight straight points to secure the victory, 80-55, with over four minutes left on the clock.
In the second semis match, the Manta Rays delivered at crunchtime, as they sealed the last finals berth only in the closing minutes of the game.
The Knights, who were winless in the regular season, played their best game ever in the tournament, but missed an upset due to poor shot selection in the closing minutes of the match.
MCS fans were up on their feet as their Knights threatened the Rays a couple of times in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter before Bill Babauta and Preston Basa delivered game-saving baskets.
The Knights held the driver’s seat the last time at the 68-67 count after Audrey Delos Santos layup, with 3:43 left on the clock.
Babauta was fouled in the ensuing play and split his charities, while MCS’s Stephen Kim missed a triple giving the possession back to the Rays, who led by a deuce after an undergoal stab from Babauta, 70-68, going into the last three minutes of the game.
After the two teams exchanged errors, Kris Aquino drilled a layup to tie the game, 80-all, with 2:08 remaining on the clock.
Basa quickly broke the deadlock scoring on a layup, with 1:50 left in the game.
Instead of taking a high-percentage shot, Delos Santos opted for a triple and missed. Aquino grabbed the offensive rebound and missed.
He had a double blackeye, as he was called for a foul for reaching in on Babauta, who hit the floor holding the nape of his neck.
The Rays coach Joel Punzalan and Babauta’s other teammates came onto the court to check on the SSHS forward. A Rays fan also checked on Babauta and then argued with referee Rick Alegre, who charged Southern a technical foul, as the women fan complained too much.
The Knights, who were given two free throws and possession of the ball, muffed their chance to tie the game when Kim split his charities.
Kim tried to redeem himself when he drove to the basket. But he missed then fouled Babauta in the rebound play.
Babauta drilled two free throws giving the Rays a 74-71 lead, with 1:15 remaining on the clock.
Barcinas called the play on MCS’ next possession, but his kickout pass to Delos Santos was intercepted by Tony Rogolifoi, Jr., who threw a pass to Duenas for a layup.
The Knights’ missed two shots in the ensuing play, while Basa scored four straight points to seal the victory.
The winner-take-all finals will be played on Friday.
Punzalan said Southern point guard Mike Eclevia, who missed the semis because he is still in Thailand, will play in the championship match.
Scores:
First Game
MHS 90—De Vero 27, Tarkong 15, Phillip 10, Tudela 8, Brant 8, Cruz 8, Aldan 5, Taitano 4, Villegas 3, Tumaquip 2.
KHS 68—A. Moses 23, Ada 20, Teregeyo 12, Chariton 6, Matagolai 2, Concepcion 2.
Quarterscores: 9-15, 30-31, 60-51, 90-68
Second Game
SSHS 82—Babauta 20, Basa 15, Duenas 10, Diaz 7, Rogolifoi 7, Masga 6, Tilipao 6, Taitano 4, Beltau 3, Blesoch 2, Echon 2.
MCS 71—S. Kim 19, Aquino 13, Barcinas 10, Delos Santos 10, Ro. Salas 7, T. Kim 5, White 3, Ri. Salas 2, Aldan 2.
Quarterscores: 20-14, 37-33, 55-51, 82-71