Min Seong Kim mustered nine points in the final quarter and totaled 22 while Reynald Cabaltica scored 14. The Knights erased their seven-point deficit from the first half and needed only three points to tie the game in the third quarter.
“We just settled down and started playing defense,” said Mt. Carmel’s team captain Kevin Bautista in a phone interview yesterday. “Once we got our defense settled we started making shots and that made a difference in the game.”
Richard Wang of SIS top scored at 31 points but missed critical baskets in the last four minutes. Vince He tallied 16 points and Jack Liu added seven for the Geckos.
“Richard Wang is a really good player, so we did our best to contain him,” added Bautista.
Kim nailed two of his five free throw attempts in the second half and Jae Yong Yoon hammered six more points. Meanwhile, Geza Baka’s late-game rebounds kept the ball under Mount Carmel’s control.
The Knights – now with four wins and two losses – are set to play Marianas Baptist Academy today. The Geckos will also face Grace Christian Academy.
Baka and John Griffin each posted four points and Ayden Gagaring scored two.
Scores:
Mount Carmel School 61 – M. Kim 22, R. Cabaltica 14, J. Yoon 8, M. Igitol 6, J. Griffin 4, G. Baka 4, A. Gagaring 2, K. Bautista 1
Saipan International School 56 – R. Wang 31, V. He 16, J. Liu 7, J. Borja 2
Quarterscores: 11-10, 27-20, 41-39, 56-61
