By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
MARPAC is one win away from entering the semifinals of the 2026 Priority Care Inter Business/Government League after defeating Tan Holdings, 97-79, in a playoff game held at the Gilbert C. Ada Gym on Tuesday night.
The opening quarter had both teams butting heads in a high-scoring shootout.
Marpac’s versatility did not go unnoticed as every player on the court posed a threat. Coby Santos played the role of the aggressor by constantly attacking the rim alongside Henry Sablan, while Chioni Dela Cruz and Jeffrey Castro supported the run with fast-break finishes and 3-pointers. On the other end, Tan Holdings was just as productive thanks to the two-man game of Shaolin Jugos and Gino Andon, who carried the team with 10 and seven points, respectively, as Tan trailed by just one point, 22-21.
The second period was where the separation occurred. Marpac began to tighten up and successfully shut down any long-distance attacks, limiting Tan Holdings to 12 points while its own offense continued to click, led by Santos with 14 points in the period alone to push the gap to 49-34.
Although Tan Holdings switched to a more aggressive approach in the third frame, drawing a handful of fouls and putting Marpac into early foul trouble, it failed to make a difference on the defensive end as Marpac’s Dela Cruz and Castro took over the spotlight with a combined 20 points to maintain a safe distance, 81-51.
Despite facing a 30-point deficit heading into the final quarter, Tan Holdings refused to roll over as it suddenly regained its shooting touch, nearly doubling Marpac’s output. Unfortunately, the late-game efforts of Andon, Henry Aguon and Chris Adams were not enough, only making the final score more respectable before Tan Holdings absorbed the 97-79 loss.
The win solidifies Marpac’s position as a serious contender in the bracket, while the loss forces Tan Holdings into a difficult “win-or-go-home” path through the consolation rounds.
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.
