Team Checkpoint players display the open division championship trophy as they pose for a photo with officials of the 2023 Saipan Magalahi Eagles Club Invitational Basketball League on Saturday at the Gualo Rai basketball court.
Checkpoint’s Keith Santos pulls up for the three-pointer over Easy Riders’ Andrew Ashburn during the open division championship game of the 2023 Saipan Magalahi Eagles Club Invitational Basketball League on Saturday at the Gualo Rai basketball court.
CHECKPOINT trounced the highly favored Easy Riders, 83-58, to claim the open division title of the 2023 Saipan Magalahi Eagles Club Invitational Basketball League at the Gualo Rai basketball court on Saturday.
The Easy Riders, who held an undefeated record, made their presence known in the first quarter with Austin Camacho sinking the first two buckets while teammate Frank Ferrer added five more points.
However, after a timeout was called, Checkpoint found their rhythm and their own defensive highlights that turned trash into gold. Sid Quan ignited the run with two second-chance bucks while Keith Santos followed up with six unanswered points to snatch the lead, 18-11.
The Easy Riders continued to struggle during the second quarter. Each time they had the opportunity to cut the lead, they were set back with violations and fouls, which led to turnovers.
Meanwhile, Checkpoint’s Keith Santos picked up where he left off with two buckets while Coby Santos led the onslaught with 10 points to widen the lead, 34-22.
More of the same was seen in the second half.
With each shot that Easy Riders made, Checkpoint had an answer on the other end.
The Easy Riders tried to work as a team with Raymond Velasco, Austin Camacho, and Cris Diwa at the frontline, but Checkpoint’s Jeff Castro and Tony Kim answered back while teammates Keith Santos and Greg Sablan added two more shots to remain in control of the third canto, 53-39.
Checkpoint then solidified their lead in the fourth and final quarter with Jack Aranda delivering back-to-back triples while teammates Coby Santos and Gerald Flores extending the deficit even further en route to an emphatic 83-58 victory.
Checkpoint team captain Jack Aranda said they had no strategy, but they wanted to give more playing time to the those who hadn’t seen much action.
“I wasn’t really worried because I knew the boys could play well. I take my hat off to these guys because they did a phenomenal job today,” he added.
He believes the turning point were their defensive stops in the third quarter. “They [the Easy Riders] were fighting back but I think the boys kept their composure, which was the best part of the game,” he added.
On behalf of his team, Aranda thanked the Saipan Magalahi Eagles Club, their sponsor, Checkpoint, and coaches Erwin Lumanlan and Albert Agustin.
The masters division championship game result and the individual awards will be featured in Variety’s next editions.
