By James Sablan
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
ACTION heated up at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium as the Madflex Invitational Basketball League 2026 featured three tightly contested games, highlighted by New Summit extending its winning streak with a 68-50 victory over D’Outcast last Sunday.
New Summit asserted its dominance early, showcasing a balanced performance on both ends of the court.
Its zone defense proved nearly impenetrable, holding D’Outcast to just two three-pointers in the first 10 minutes. On offense, New Summit played with confidence, led by Jepoy Tabora and Jeff Victoria, who each knocked down a pair of baskets to build a 16-6 lead.
D’Outcast continued to struggle in the second quarter, unable to find its offensive rhythm and hampered by early foul trouble. With the lead growing, New Summit’s bench contributed, as Jun Pelisamen added eight points alongside Tabora to extend the advantage to 35-14 at halftime.
D’Outcast showed signs of life in the second half. Improved ball movement and communication led to better scoring opportunities, with Rey Olopai and Tiago Esmores leading the charge in the third quarter, while DeShawn Reign and Henry Aguon added support in the fourth.
However, the comeback fell short as New Summit’s depth proved too much. Contributions from Javier and Elayda, along with continued scoring from Tabora and Victoria, sealed the 68-50 win.
Other games
In another game, The Game outlasted Blue Haus, 76-68.
The Game built a 24-15 lead in the first quarter behind a fast-paced transition offense. Blue Haus responded with a strong third-quarter run, scoring 20 points to cut the deficit to 57-53.
Still, The Game kept its poise in the closing minutes to put the game away.
Hybrid also escaped with a narrow 77-74 win over MP Raiders.
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.
