Koblerville Elementary School 1 players pose with the championship title in the elementary school division of the PSS-NMIBF Interscholastic Basketball League SY24-25 at the Marianas High School gym.
KOB 1’s Paylyn Mansfield dribbles as he sets up the play against GES II in the elementary school division title game of the PSS-NMIBF Interscholastic Basketball League SY24-25 at the Marianas High School gym.
KOBLERVILLE Elementary School 1 reclaimed the elementary school division championship title of the PSS-NMIBF Interscholastic Basketball League SY24-25 by trouncing Garapan Elementary School II, 43-11, at the Marianas High School gym on Saturday.
GES II entered the championship round exhausted, and it showed as they failed to produce a single point in the opening quarter.
KOB I, for their part, excelled as they constantly worked together to create openings that allowed Lovan Ngeskebei and Paylyn Mansfield to deliver two buckets each as their team seized the lead, 11-0.
Despite a rough start, GES scored seven points with Vince Imperial converting a three-pointer. But KOB, led by Tickson Cosmes, put up four points to maintain the advantage, 21-7.
In the third period, GES II fell back into an offensive drought and could only score two points while KOB I’s confidence started to grow as Manfield extended his range to score his team’s first triple followed by two more buckets by teammate Dolores Okaruru to extend the deficit, 28-9.
GES II scored a mere point in the fourth quarter as KOB I resumed their dominance with a 15-point run to seal the deal, 43-11.
Taking third place was Kagman Elementary School, which outplayed GES II, 22-11.
Undefeated
After winning the title for three consecutive times, KOB 1 failed to reach the finals in the previous season. But this year, they played much harder and more consistently.
They not only won the title, but did it with an undefeated record despite not having a basketball court where they could practice until the same week of the first game of the season.
“They’ve been working hard since then. They all worked together and started playing well — it’s the first time to have a basketball court in our school,” said coach Francis Mendiola.
He thanked the parents and the school administration for giving hope to the students.
When asked what the strategy was for the title game, Mendiola and assistant coach Angie Ruiz said it was to play the basics, rebound the ball, and score inside the perimeter.
At the same time, they commended Garapan for “playing with their hearts — they had to play three games to reach the finals, and they won an upset victory against the defending champion, Kagman.”
