FRANCISCO M. Sablan Middle School defeated the number one seed, Hopwood Middle School 1, twice to claim the championship of the IT&E Interscholastic Boys Middle School Basketball League 2021-2022 Saturday at the Marianas High School gym.
HOP 1, the favored team, sent FMS to the losers bracket in the quarterfinals and cruised to the finals unscathed.
In game 1 of the championship, HOP 1 were in control in the first half as Ciandrew Yumul powered his team with back-to-back buckets for a seven-point lead.
But FMS slowly worked their way back with Christian Lucero scoring 12 points, including a shot from beyond the arc as his team snatched the lead before halftime, 18-16.
In the second half, FMS’ lead grew larger as the rest of the team started to chip in offensively. Herman Addy opened up the run with a bucket while Jezpher Navarro played aggressively to force the foul that allowed him to deliver the points from the free-throw line.
HOP 1’s Yumul continued to deliver, but his team failed to defend well and had to settle for defeat, 33-24.
Game 2
In game 2, HOP 1 changed tactics and opted for more ball movements to create better shot opportunities.
They continued to struggle, however, while FMS’ Lucero sizzled on offense, scoring all of his team’s 14 points in the first half as they took a 14-8 lead.
In the second half, HOP 1’s Claude Ruben, Marc Tengco and Thomas Santos delivered much needed points, but FMS’ Addy, Navarro, and Jayden Defang were relentless as they added the finishing touches to clinch their second consecutive win over HOP 1, 30-22, and bag the boys middle school division title.
FMS’ roster consists of Heman Addy, Cayden Lizama, Peyton Basa, Jared Villagomez, Daniel Sano, Thongba Pomdi, Jaydan Defang, John Lloyd Lucero, Jezpher Navarro, Jerz Navarro, Christian Lucero, Giovanni Camacho, Dany Defang, Jefferson Isaac, and Jonald Guiterrez.
The FMS head coach is Ezekiel Macario while the assistant coach is Angel San Nicolas.
FMS’s Christian Lucero pulls up for the fadeaway shot over three defenders during a game of the IT&E Interscholastic Boys Middle School Basketball League at the MHS gym.
Hopwood 1’s Tyler Omelau extends for the finish during a game of the IT&E Interscholastic Boys Middle School Basketball League at the MHS gym.
