THE boys and girls of the NMI Junior National Basketball Teams lost their first games Monday in the FIBA U15 Oceania Championship on Guam
The NMI boys had a strong start but the FSM played the long game and gradually built momentum to triumph, 89-68.
The FSM was ahead throughout most of the opening quarter before the NMI’s Christian Lucero went on a scoring spree to give his team he lead, 19-17.
But the NMI failed to keep the momentum burning in the second canto and started to fall behind due to turnovers and missed opportunities which allowed the FSM to seize a double-digit advantage, 47-36.
The NMI regained confidence in the third quarter as they had an answer for nearly every shot made at the opposite end, but they could not close the distance and had to settle for defeat, 68-89.
The NMI’s Christian Lucero was his team’s top performer with 25 points and nine rebounds.
Against Guam
The NMI girls also took a hit in their opening game, losing 37-85 to Guam.
The NMI played well in the first quarter with Zariel Fatialofa controlling the paint and scoring four points.
But Guam quickly recovered and was already leading by six points after only five minutes of play.
Guam maintained its dominance and had a comfortable 62-27 lead by the third quarter.
The NMI tried to rekindle its offensive flames in the final quarter but found no answer to Guam’s onslaught.
Azriel Fatialofa was Team NMI’s top performer with 14 points, 20 rebounds and five blocks.
The NMI’s Onick Ragbonshe attempts to drive past an FSM defender during a FIBA U15 Men’s Oceania Championship game Monday in Mangilao, Guam.
The NMI’s Kaithlyn Chavez dribbles forward as Guam’s Maria-Jean Paulino closes in during a FIBA U15 Women’s Oceania Championship game on Monday in Mangilao, Guam.
