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Jr. Nationals secure second straight win
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Posted on Sep 05 2008
The CNMI Junior Nationals stepped on the gas early en route to a 72-60 victory against the Kontenders in the Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League Wednesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
The win was the Junior Nationals’ second in a row after losing their debut to the Southern Sonics last month, 71-4. The Junior Nationals’ first win was against the G-Rollers II.
The loss was second straight for the Kontenders, who started the league with a 2-0 record, beating the G-Rollers II and the Suns. The G-Rollers I handed the Kontenders their first defeat.
Veterans Jericho Cruz and Marvin Rabauliman worked early for the Junior Nationals combining for 30 points to give their team a big 46-24 halftime lead.
With their huge lead, the Junior Nationals relaxed a bit, giving the Kontenders a chance to cut the margin to a decent one.
Rabauliman, who had 19 points in the first half, slowed down a bit in the second, but still managed to score eight markers. Cruz had 11 in the first half and added six in the last 20 minutes of the match.
Joseph White scored in double figures for the third straight game, nailing 10.
Trevor Ogumoro paced the Kontenders with 25 points. Eugene Dillay made eight of his 10 points in the second half, but he was too late the hero, as the Kontenders had put themselves in quite a deep hole in the first half.
CNMI Junior Nationals 72 – Rabauliman 27, Crz 15, White 10, Moses 6, Castro 6, William 2, Villagomez 2.
Kontenders 60 – Ogumoro 26, E. Dillay 10, Kaipat 7, Dawe 5, Charley 3, D. Dillay 2, Nogis 2.
Scoring by halves: 46-24, 72-60.
Referees: Arnold Mesa and Connie Camacho.
