THE Hotshots ended the 4Funsies’ win streak to bag the championship of the Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation’s Three vs Three Hoop Fest Tournament held Saturday at the TSL Sports Complex.
4Funsies entered the final round unscathed while the Hotshots had to win twice before they could be crowned champions.
In game 1, 4Funsies seemed to have the title in the palm of their hands after garnering a comfortable lead. Mikki Kautz’s all-around game and three quick points, one made from beyond the arc, and team mate Dianne Pablo’s four consecutive points further extend their lead.
Fortunately for the Hotshots, their tireless efforts gradually wore down 4Funsies.
Hotshot Irish Pagarao’s aggressive pace kept the defenders on their toes as she continuously drove inside the paint, scoring eight points as her team seized a two-point advantage with eight minutes left on the clock.
Kautz tried to take matters into her own hands in the final few minutes of the game, scoring the last five points.
However, the Hotshots’ Destiny Pangelinan and Madeleine Alegre drained back-to-back buckets while team mate Angel Roligat scored the final jump shot to win game one, 21-17, and force one more battle for the title.
In the second and final game, the Hotshots rode the momentum from the start with Pagarap, Roligat and Pangelinan sinking a triple each for a 6-2 lead. The bombardment continued as Alegre joined the assault with four points to give the Hotshots a 12-6 lead with 12 minutes left on the clock.
4Funsies aimed for a quick comeback with a handful of attempted three-pointers but failed to connect at a high percentage and had to settle for defeat, 10-17.
In the semis, 4Funsies doused the Hotshots, 14-9.
Hotshot’s Madeleine Alegre protects the ball as she attempts to drive past 4Funsies’ Dianne Pablo during the championship game of the Northern Mariana Islands Basketball Federation’s Three vs Three Hoop Fest Tournament on Saturday at the TSL Sports Complex.
The Hotshots pose with their medals.
