By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

MARIANAS Baptist Academy and Mt. Carmel School arranged their title showdown in the Coalition of Private Schools high school basketball tournament after prevailing in their semifinal matches last Wednesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gym.
The MBA Stormz won over Saipan International School, while the Knights downed Northern Marianas Academy.
The Stormz, which finished the regular season in second place with a 5-4 record, posted a nine-point win over the Geckos, 59-50.
Wilbert Fejeran led MBA with 16 points, while DG Kim added 14.
With Kim and Fejeran finding their marks in the first quarter, the Stormz took control of the game notching a 19-14 lead, after the first eight minutes of the game.
The lead increased to 15 at halftime, 37-22, as Fejeran and Kim continue to lead the Stormz in the second quarter.
Kim finished with 10 points at halftime, while Fejeran had eight.
The Stormz held the Geckos to seven points in the third period to up their lead to 21, 50-29, entering the final canto.
The Geckos outscored the Stormz for the first time in the fourth canto, 17-9, but it was not enough to help the latter steal the game.
The boys’ finals will be played today at 4:15 p.m after the girls’ championship match, which starts at 3 p.m.
The girls’ finals will feature the defending champion Lady Geckos and the Lady Knights.
SIS earned a return trip to the girls’ high school finals after beating Grace Christian Academy in the semis last Wednesday
The Lady Knights defeated the MBA Lady Stormz in the other semis match.
SIS Rob Epley said they have to stop MCS’s Noelle Calvo and Nicole Lebria to boost their chances of defending their title.
The Lady Geckos topped the Lady Eagles in last year’s finals, while the Knights placed third.
Scores:
MBA 59—Fejeran 16, Kim 14, Cabrera 6, Chang 5, Jo 5, Park 5, Sablan 2, D. Lee, Manglona 2.
SIS 50—A. Lee 26, Chan 12, Togawa 7, F. Lee 3.