By James Sablan
james@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
THE VEGA Environmental 3×3 Basketball Tournament concluded with the best teams battling it out in two thrilling championship games, where Bemermii and the Arc Angels emerged victorious, claiming their respective division titles Wednesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
The men’s division championship game was intense but ended in an anti-climactic fashion, with Bemermii edging Asian Persuasion through free-throw attempts, 21–19.
The action was highlighted by a series of lead exchanges. Bemermii’s sharpshooter Chioni Dela Cruz made sure his presence was felt from beyond the arc, sinking a total of four two-pointers, while Airson Atan continuously slashed his way inside with strong finishes to keep their rhythm flowing.
On the other end, Asian Persuasion focused on the inside game, with Coby Santos orchestrating the assault — powering his way to the rim and drawing several and-one plays. Alongside Mii Tekopua and Tony Kim, who added length and presence in the paint, the game reached a 19–19 deadlock.
Unfortunately for Asian Persuasion, foul trouble proved costly. A critical mistake shifted the momentum as they sent Bemermii to the line twice, allowing Dela Cruz and Ervin Villarin to sink the decisive free throws and secure the title, 21–19.
Women’s division
In the women’s division, the Arc Angels delivered a dominating performance against Prime 1, 13–8, to claim the championship.
The Arc Angels comfortably controlled the pace. Leading the charge was Madi Alegre, who was efficient in the post with her back to the basket, alongside Mikki Kautz, whose soft touch helped the duo find the bottom of the net with ease.
Although Prime 1 fought hard — with Yasmeen Younis, Rosie Saralu, and Jahsmin Ramon weaving through defenders — their struggles to create space and reliance on cuts weren’t enough to close the gap, as the Arc Angels sealed the win, 13–8.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.