By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
AS the first round of the Madflex Invitational Basketball League 2026 came to an end on Saturday, D’Outcast and New Summit strengthened their positions in the standings after winning separate thrilling matchups at the Agape Christian School gym.
D’Outcast came away with a narrow overtime victory over Hybrid, 65-63.
Hybrid came out with guns blazing in the opening half. Their execution was fluid, catching D’Outcast’s defense off guard, spearheaded by the aggressive play of Padayao, Benavidez, and Phillips, who helped build a commanding 36-23 halftime lead.
However, D’Outcast tightened up in the second half, clamping down defensively and holding Hybrid to 20 points. On offense, Robles and Diaz provided steady production with eight and 11 points, respectively, helping D’Outcast erase the deficit and tie the game at 56-56 to force overtime.
Whatever adjustments D’Outcast made at halftime paid off.
In overtime, both teams traded baskets, but D’Outcast found another gear under pressure. Clutch shots from Robles and Diaz gave them a slim lead in the final minutes. Hybrid still had a chance but was forced to foul in the closing stretch in an attempt to stop the clock. D’Outcast capitalized at the line to seal the 65-63 win.
New Summit vs The Game
In the second game, New Summit defeated The Game, 51-41.
New Summit wasted no time asserting control. From the opening tip, their offense clicked with Victoria and Camacho leading the charge, while their perimeter defense — anchored by Pelisamen, Saplan, and Javier — stifled The Game and built a 31-15 halftime lead.
To their credit, The Game responded in the second quarter, tightening their defense and improving in transition. Fernando caught fire from beyond the arc, hitting three consecutive triples during one stretch, while Tengco and Morales added second-chance points on the boards.
However, the deficit proved too large to overcome, as Victoria and Camacho closed strong with a combined 17 points to secure the 51-41 win.
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.
