By James Sablan
james@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
IN a defensive showcase defined by discipline and teamwork, Koblerville Elementary School 1 secured the co-ed elementary school division championship of the PSS-NMIBF IT&E Interscholastic Basketball League SY25-26 by outlasting Kagman Elementary School 1 on Saturday afternoon at the Agape Christian School gym.
The matchup was decided by Koblerville’s stifling defense and a dominant first-half performance that Kagman could not overcome.
It was skill paired with teamwork for KOB 1. Led by Lellan Daniel’s shooting and ball-handling ability, it did not take long before he caught fire, scoring eight points — including two three-pointers — to help Koblerville seize the upper hand.
KAG 1, despite struggling to find the bottom of the net, generated enough shot opportunities to score six points. However, a lack of defensive coverage left them trailing 12–6 at the end of the opening quarter.
The second quarter became a defensive battle. Although KAG 1 managed to score four points, they nearly silenced KOB 1, holding them to just one basket. Koblerville entered halftime with a 14–10 lead.
In the third period, KOB 1 regained momentum and looked to pull away, opening the half with a 9–4 run led by Joshua Jose and Dolores Okaruru.
Kagman made a push in the fourth quarter by shifting strategies and employing a cherry-picker to trim the deficit. Each missed shot by KOB 1 turned into fast-break opportunities at the other end, capitalized on by Basil Faisao and Nemily Saimon, as KAG 1 closed to within single digits.
Despite the surge, KOB 1 remained composed. Using their timeouts wisely, they slowed the pace and regained control, with Okaruru and Daniel connecting on key baskets down the stretch to seal a 32–24 victory.
Prior to the championship game, KOB 1 narrowly escaped elimination, surviving KAG 1 on a game-winning layup by Patrick Mansfield that propelled them into the finals.
For head coach Francis Mendiola and coach Angie Ruiz, the victory marked a significant back-to-back championship run for the Koblerville program. Mendiola noted that many of his players have been with the program since first or second grade, playing for “Team 2” before advancing to the championship-winning “Team 1” as fifth graders.
“Every year is getting better, and that’s why we’ve got to keep making our program better and better,” Mendiola said, crediting the school’s on-campus court for the team’s high level of preparation.
Beyond the court, Mendiola and Ruiz emphasized that academics are the foundation of their program. “The most important thing is making sure their academics are up to par before they come to our games,” Mendiola said, thanking the school administration and teachers for coordinating after-school study sessions.
Kagman Elementary School 1 settled for second place, followed by Tinian Elementary School in third.
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.
