By James Sablan
james@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
EVIAN/JCME emerged victorious in the finale of the Saipan Centennial Lions Club 3rd Season Invitational Basketball League 2025, securing the upper bracket championship after an exhilarating 83-79 matchup against HBR/The Game on Sunday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
The title game was marked by intense back-and-forth action, showcasing the competitive spirit of both teams.
HBR started off strong, using their wits to gain the early advantage. Wesley Walker controlled the pace within the first 10 minutes of the opening half by drawing fouls, putting a couple of Evian players in early foul trouble while leading the offensive charge with 17 points.
Evian gradually found their rhythm and began to close the gap thanks to the two-man efforts of Keith Santos and Coby Santos, who led the rally with nine and seven points, respectively.
Despite HBR controlling the boards — with Airson Atan and Libut capitalizing on second-chance opportunities — Evian’s defensive efforts did not go unnoticed, as they turned each successful stop into points on the other end. Fueled by Chioni Dela Cruz and Mii Tekopua, Evian seized the lead heading into halftime, 42-37.
In the second half, HBR adjusted their offensive approach by spreading their options. Shane Deleon Guerrero attacked the lanes with strong finishes at the rim alongside Jun Pelisamen, Walker, and Atan, who kept the momentum going with mid- and long-range shots.
However, HBR’s errors and missed opportunities proved costly, allowing Evian to pull ahead in the final stretch. Tony Kim provided a spark by drawing several fouls and converting at the free-throw line, while Dela Cruz extended his long-range assault, draining three consecutive triples to maintain a safe lead.
In the closing minutes, Coby Santos and Rodel Pastrana sealed the victory with back-to-back finishes, securing the 83-79 win and the upper bracket championship title.
Scores
Evian/JCME 83 – Rodel Pastrana 20, Coby Santos 17, Chioni Dela Cruz 17, Keith Santos 9, Tony Kim 9, Mii Tekopua 7, Jack Aranda 4
HBR/The Game 79 – Wesley Walker 27, Airson Atan 14, JR Galang 9, Shane Deleon Guerrero 9, Libut 9, Jun Pelisamen 5, Jeffrey Yugummang 2, Ram 2, John Thongaram 2
Awards
After the championship game, team and individual awards were presented.
Leading the individual awards were Coby Santos, named Finals MVP; Wesley Walker, the Season MVP; and Paul Quizon, Best Coach. The Mythical Five honorees were RJhay Singca (Best Guard), Douglas “Spider” Schmidt (Best Guard), Coby Santos (Best Forward), Wesley Walker (Best Forward), and Emmanuel Bondad (Best Center).
Following Evian and HBR were Yuman/Jacob’s/Fitfam in third place, A Plus Consulting in fourth, The New Summit LLC in fifth, and Red Eye Rebel/Compadres in sixth, the latter also earning the Sportsmanship Award.
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.
