By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

DEFENDING champion Saipan International School earned a return trip to the finals of the Coalition of Private Schools high school basketball tournament.
The Lady Geckos, who defeated Grace Christian Academy in last year’s championship match, reasserted their mastery over the Lady Eagles notching a 45-27 win in the semifinals yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gym.
SIS will face Mt. Carmel in the winner-take-all finals tomorrow.
The Lady Knights earlier grabbed the first finals berth after whipping Marianas Baptist Academy, 63-46.
Mt. Carmel was the regular season champion in the girls’ division sweeping the three-round elimination for a 9-0 record.
The Lady Geckos finished in second place with a 6-3 slate with all their losses coming against the Lady Knights.
“Our losses against Mt. Carmel were all close games, but we’re confident we can make it this time against Mt. Carmel,” SIS coach Rob Epley said.
“Our team’s fitness is at the highest level. We have yet to play our best game and I am confident it will come this Friday,” he added.
Madison Smith led the Lady Geckos semis win hitting 14 points, while Lena Guzman and Melissa Halaby chipped in eight markers apiece.
The Lady Geckos led from start to finish with Smith and Guzman getting a couple of inside baskets.
Lia Rangamar topscored for the Lady Eagles with 11 markers.
In the MCS-MBA semis tiff, Nicole Lebria drilled 19 points to lift the Lady Knights to a 17-point win.
Maki Ta added 12 markers, while Noelle Calvo nailed nine.
The girls’ championship match will start at 3 p.m.
The boys’ semifinals games were also played yesterday with Mt. Carmel taking on Northern Marianas Academy and MBA squaring off with SIS.
The results of neither match were unavailable at press time.
The winners of yesterday’s semis games will advance to the do-or-die championship match, which will also be played tomorrow beginning at 4:15 p.m. at the Ada Gym.
Scores:
First Game
MCS 63—Lebria 19, Ta 12, Calvo 9, Takai 6, Manglona 5, Manalo 4, Castro 4, Sablan 2.
MBA 46—Kim 22, Good 11, Manglona 4, Sakamoto 2.
Second Game
SIS 45—Smith 14, Guzman 10, Halaby 10, Tessen 5, Kim 4, Choi 2.
GCA 27—Rangamar 11, Phan 9, Ta 7.