Prime and GR-Sixers players pose with Rep. Elias Rangamar as champions of their respective divisions in the Liberation Day Friendship Basketball Tournament held at the Ada Gym on Thursday.
Contributed photos
GR-SIXERS and Prime emerged as champions of their respective divisions in the Liberation Day Friendship Basketball Tournament, hosted by Rep. Elias Rangamar, at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium on Thursday.
GR-Sixers claimed the boys division title after Leon Duenas delivered the game-winning shot to edge Jr. Ol’Aces, 27-26.
It was a fairly even match between the two teams, as they exchanged buckets throughout the 20-minute finale.
Sixers’ Jarius Pangelinan led the early offensive highlights, scoring six points in the first 10 minutes. On the other end, Ol’Aces’ Theo Joab matched him with six points of his own to give his team a slight edge.
In the final 10 minutes, the intensity ramped up. This time, Sixers’ Logan Daniel stepped up with back-to-back buckets, joined shortly after by Dany Defang and Leon Duenas. But for every shot made by the Sixers, Ol’Aces had an answer. Their teamwork remained their greatest strength, with Joab, Joshua Manas, and Zuriel Abejo leading the charge to keep them ahead, 26-25.
With just three seconds left on the clock, Duenas came in clutch — finding space and sinking the game-winning shot to stun Ol’Aces, 27-26, and secure the championship title for the Sixers.
In the girls division, Prime cruised to the title with a dominant 18-8 win over Lady Aces.
Representative Rangamar extended his gratitude to the CNMI Youth Congress, legislative leaders, and the Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation for their support in making the tournament a success.
