By James Sablan
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
D’OUTCAST earned a hard-fought victory on Friday after pulling off a late-game rally to defeat Blue Haus, 80-75, in a 2026 Madflex Invitational Basketball League game at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
The opening game was a battle for momentum, with control swinging continuously between both teams. Blue Haus looked poised early, leaning on their veteran experience to take command. Dane Tibayan led the offensive assault, finishing at the rim and capitalizing on fast-break opportunities to establish a 21-11 lead by the end of the first quarter.
During the second period, D’Outcast began closing the gap. Ales Robles and Eric Agustin found their rhythm, converting most of their shot attempts. Despite this, Blue Haus maintained control with continuous fast-break points, leading 41-36 at halftime.
The third quarter marked a turning point. Robles leveraged his height to attack the paint, drawing fouls and converting several and-one plays. With Rey Olopai hitting clutch shots, D’Outcast eventually took the lead, 61-56.
The final quarter intensified as both teams vied for control. D’Outcast held on long enough to secure the 80-75 victory.
MP Raiders vs Win Trust
In the other game, MP Raiders defeated Win Trust, 89-78, using explosive first and third quarters to outlast their opponents in a physical, foul-heavy matchup. The Raiders established early dominance, outscoring Win Trust 26-18 in the opening frame, led by sharp shooting from Marc Tengco and strong interior play from Nolan Cultura.
Win Trust responded in the second quarter, holding MP Raiders to just 11 points while scoring 21 of their own. However, MP Raiders exploded for 31 points in the third quarter, sealing the win and finishing nine points ahead.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
