G-Rollers I were not hard enough to crush Jr. Nationals’ defense and offense, after finishing the finals match in a lopsided defeat.
Jr. Nationals routed G-Rollers I in what may be described as an easy match, 70-52, claiming the season championship title of the league.
Jericho Cruz led Jr. Nationals squad to victory with a total of 21-point contribution, while another power forward, Marvin Rabauliman helped push the team to the finish with his 20- point total.
From the beginning of play, both Cruz and Rabauliman showed intensity with their gameplan, positioning themselves in low post to connect to the basket with their respective two-pointers.
Rabauliman fired away a series of two points in the initial minutes of the first quarter to make a one-point lead over G-Rollers I, 12-11.
Both teams got tied at 19 points. Unfortunately for G-Rollers I, they also got stuck with the score as Jr. Nationals continued their barrage of offense down the court, creating a wide deficit over G-Rollers I.
By the end of the first quarter, Jr. Nationals were already enjoying a 11-point lead. The score was 30-19.
Brandon Aulerio of G-Rollers I tried to recover his team’s deficit by firing three three-pointers. However, Aulerio seemed to have run out of loads from his pocket, disappearing from the scene.
Many Matagolai, Edwin Camacho, and Don Teregeyo formed a triad of offense for G-Rollers I but their effort was not enough to boost the team in the final minutes of the match.
Meanwhile, no three-point shots were heard from the juniors, but their cagers sank points after points through G-Rollers I’s weak defensive posture.
Jr. Nationals’ Rabauliman, Allen Moses, and Cruz’ breached G-Rollers I’s defense in the second period, driving inside the painted area for some quick two-pointers.
In the battle for third earlier on Friday, Sixers outscored and practically outshined G-Stars, 65-54.
Ian Benavente, Matt and Ernest Duenas came out loaded in the game, producing points for Sixers via fastbreaks.
Joe Ada was not quite able to post under the basket as often as he wanted, but he produced a double digit score for Sixers.
Ada went for 10 points in the entire match.
The power forward, opened and closed the second quarter with his flair for back-breaking lay ups.
The match between Sixers and G-Stars saw 32-29 tally in the first period in favor of Sixers, and 65-54 in the second, and final quarter.
This season’s Rotary Club youth caging league witnessed the awarding of some of the best players.
Ben Babauta, president of Saipan Rotary Club, Dave Igitol – another officer of the organization, Rep. Edward T. Salas (R-Saipan), and Irene Tantiado, United Workers Movement – NMI president, and Elias Rangamar, president of Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands, graced the awarding ceremony immediately after the finals games at the Ada Gym.
Scores:
Jr. Nationals – 70: Rabauliman – 20; Dimps White – 10; Heartim Williams – 2; Allen Moses – 15; and Cruz – 21.
G-Rollers I – 52: Juan Ogarto – 2; Matagolai – 8; Teregeyo – 13; Jomar Danas – 4; Wenz Namelo – 2; Ham Hambrose – 4; Aulerio – 13; Albert Camacho – 1; and E. Camacho – 5.
