Last Wednesday proved to be a brutal match for the Dragons as they went head to head with the Falcons during the final preliminaries.
From the start of the game everything was going well for the Falcons after achieving the leading streak during the first, second, and third quarters.
It was during the final, and most crucial, quarter of the game where the Dragons’ Gino Soulik was fouled with less than two minutes left in the game.
Soulik sunk both charities in to tie with the Falcons sending the crowd into a wild frenzy.
Soulik then managed to slice through three defenders thrice to bag two lay up shots and a jump shot to allow his team, to return to the Ada gymnasium yesterday for a final match against the Falcons.
It was a twist of events in comparison to Wednesday’s events. The Dragons managed to grab the driver’s seat of the game against the Falcons during the first quarter in the hair-raising event.
Gino Soulik and teammate Meimaw Sananap took a bold shot from downtown to ignite the Dragons’ winning rally.
Soulik and Sananap each contributed five points and three points respectively in the opening round. The Dragons were leading by three points at the bottom of the first quarter 10-7.
Whatson Tommy refused to let his talents go unnoticed on the arena. Tomy debuted after throwing the ball up and miraculously it met the rim.
Tomy then connected for two three pointer shots in the last thirty seconds of the game garnering both successfully to secure his team’s lead by five points, 24-19.
With much effort the Dragons fought to keep the Falcons at bay. But inevitably the Dragons handed the upset to their co-island team after their players scored 27 more points in the second half of the bout, 51-39.
Scores:
Dragons– W. Tomy 12, G. Soulik 14, J. George 10, M. Sananap 8, Jo. George 3, L. Kaminaga 2, K. Silva 2.
MTM Falcons– R. Chargualaf 10, R. Mariano 9, R. Blas 9, R. Dagsaan 5, M. Calalang 4, F. Java 2.
The Dragons took all of the championship titles in the 2nd Annual Easter Tournament which were the 12U, 15U, 17U, and 20U titles.
“At this moment, I would like to take this opportunity say that I am honored to welcome the teams from Guam to our island and congratulations to all of you who competed,” said DCCA’s Melvin Faisao.
“I would like to say on behalf of the Department of Youth Services we would like to donate $1,000 to the Rollers Basketball Club in their plans to compete in the upcoming Summer Jam in Guam,” added Faisao.
Most Valuable Players included Austin Blaz in the 12U category, Brian Kim in the 15U category, Gino Soulik in the 17U category, and Niel Apilado in the 20U category.
“I am really proud of my players. The level of competition seen here on Saipan was amazing and we are definitely looking forward to the upcoming Summer Jam where Saipan teams will come and compete,” said the Dragons’ head coach in an interview with Variety.
The league coordinators of the 2nd Annual Docomo Easter Tournament would like to thank NTT Docomo/Docomo Pacific, United Basketball Association/UBA’s President James Lee, Bank of Guam, the Rollers Basketball Club brigaded by Joe Diaz, Hoopaholics, supporters, and players that competed in the event.
