GUALO Rai remains unscathed in the U18 boys division of the 2022 Marianas Village Pride Basketball League, earning their sixth consecutive victory by defeating Dandan, 46-37, Friday at the TSL Sports Complex.
But Gualo Rai did not have an easy game as they had to play catch up during the first half.
Dandan heated up quickly thanks to Marl Balignasay and his ability to finish at the rim to deliver five straight points, including an and-one play, while team mate Aiden Suba followed up with seven points of his own, including one triple.
Gualo Rai tried to get their rhythm flowing but struggled offensively as Dandan’s Kenny Laquian scored five points to put his team ahead, 21-10.
In the second half of the game, however, Dandan lost touch as Gualo Rai suddenly exploded on offense with Craig Padayao firing eight points from inside the paint while team mate Leo Naraja sank back-to-back threes to seize the lead.
Dandan’s Balignasay and Suba tried to get their team out of the gutter with 14 points combined, but without the ability to stop Padayao and Naraja, along with Roger Hernandez and Eliijah Garcia, who added three points apiece, Dandan had to settle for defeat, 37-46.
Gualo Rai’s Lucio Aldan extends for the finish during a U18 boys division game of the 2022 Marianas Village Pride Basketball League at the TSL Sports Complex.
