THE Rollers outlasted the Tinian Typhoons, 19-15, on Sunday at the MHS gym to win the U16 division championship of the Marianas International Basketball League 3×3 tournament sponsored by Christiano’s and IT&E.
The vision and dribbling skills of Leo Naraja were key to the Rollers’ strategy as the point guard opened several shot opportunities for his teammates while creating space for himself when needed to find the bottom of the net.
Paired with Frankie Satur, the two exploded on the offensive end with Naraja chipping in two points while Satur delivered three.
Although the Rollers found their rhythm early, the Typhoons were not going to let them go the distance without a fight.
The hustle and grit of Tinian’s players were exemplified by Jose Manglona and Tano King who forced their way inside the paint while Manglona and Collin Dela Cruz showcased their range by draining shots from beyond the arc, allowing the Typhoons to stay within reach, 6-8.
But with each bucket made by the Typhoons, the Rollers found an answer on the other end as Kyu Aldan stepped up his defense, forcing turnovers and scoring two points to extend his team’s lead.
The Typhoons managed to stay alive as Tano King was unstoppable from three-point land, draining two more buckets with the help of Manglona’s inside presence.
But during the last two minutes of the game, the Typhoons could not prevent the Rollers’ onslaught as Naraja continued to deliver shot after shot while team-mates Freddie Pelisamen Jr. and Satur applied the finishing touches en route to victory, 19-15, and the U16 division championship.
Naraja’s all-around performance earned him the Most Valuable Player award.
Scores
Rollers 19 – Leo Naraja 7, Frankie Satur 6, Freddie Pelisamen Jr. 4, Kyu Aldan 2
Typhoons 15 – Tano King 7, Jose Manglona 5, Collin Dela Cruz 3
The Rollers’ Kyu Aldan pulls up for the contested shot during the U16 championship game of the Marianas International Basketball League 3×3 tournament at the MHS gym.
Leo Naraja of the Rollers poses with the MVP trophy.
The Rollers pose for a photo after winning the U16 championship.
