END Game and SHAMMII claimed their division titles in the NMI Basketball Federation 3×3 Hoop Fest Saturday at the Ada gym.
End Game bagged the men’s open division championship by outscoring Bebenome in the finals 17-9.
It was a fast-paced game with both teams displaying flashy highlights. Eman Feria was the first to find the bottom of the net with a quick grab and release for a rebound and a point to give End Game the lead.
With the help of Matthew Richardson’s offensive play, Feria managed to sink a triple and a jump shot to extend their team’s lead.
Bebenome finally answered back after Frankie Satur and Kayjay Kabiriel connected three consecutive buckets, but Richardson delivered three more points, including another from the three-point line as End Game maintained the lead 8-3
Bebenome’s Khristian Itaas then drained four straight points, but End Game’s Richardson and team-mates Eli Aughenbaugh and Eman Feria likewise delivered the buckets.
Satur tried to keep Bebenome in the game with two more makes, but End Game managed to pull away as Richardson fired another shot from beyond the arc while Coby Santos added extra firepower with another triple to seal End Game’s victory 17-9.
Before reaching the championship round, Bebehome edged Typhoon 19-17 while End Game crushed D’ Ciders 15-7.
Women’s open
In the women’s open division, SHAMMII outplayed the Bellaballs 16-8.
It was a rough match as both teams continuously fought inside the paint for the rebound.
SHAMMII started strong with Mikki Kautz acting as the sparkplug with three straight makes from underneath the rim.
The Bellaballs retaliated with Marlene Lumabi sinking a shot from beyond the arc and a follow up courtesy of team-mate Jeraldine Castillo.
But SHAMMII managed to stay ahead thanks to Shanesse Aldan’s back-to-back triples.
The Bellaballs’ only option was to look for a quick run with Castillo nearly pulling the impossible by sinking two consecutive buckets from the three-point line. However, without the ability to secure the boards, the Bellaballs were unable to end the SHAMMII onslaught.
SHAMMII controlled the offensive and defensive rebounds thanks to the sheer hustle of Gabi Race who created several second-chance buckets for Kautz.
With team-mate Aldan hot from long-range, SHAMMII secured the win, 16-8, to claim the championship.
To reach the finals, the Bellaballs took the wind out of Typhoon’s sails 12-4 while SHAMMII eliminated ThatOneTeam 15-6.
U18 boys division
In the U18 boys division, Ol’Aces Real Deal outlasted the Chargers 10-9.
It was the battle of the three-pointers as both teams relied on the rainbow shot to seize control.
Ol’Aces’ Airson Atan heated up early in the game with two shots made from behind the three-point line but these were matched by the Chargers’ Aiden Suba who cut down Ol’Aces’ lead 6-5.
After Suba delivered his third triple, Ol’Aces’ Harry Kapwich scored a triple of his own followed by a much-needed inside bucket courtesy of Atan as Ol’Aces secured victory, 10-9.
Before entering the championship round, the Chargers had to take down MadFlex 17-14 while Ol’Aces Real Deal bested Undercooked Rolls 10-7.
SHAMMII’s Mikki Kautz rises for the shot as she gets fouled during the women’s championship game of the NMI Basketball Federation 3×3 Hoop Fest at the Ada gym on Saturday.
End Game’s Eli Aughenbaugh drives past Kayjay Kabiriel during the men’s championship game of the NMI Basketball Federation 3×3 Hoop Fest at the Ada gym on Saturday.
SHAMMI team members pose with their first-place medals and NMI Basketball Federation officials David John Apatang and James Lee.
End Game team members pose with their first-place medals and NMI Basketball Federation officials David John Apatang and James Lee.
