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CNMI Junior Nationals extend win streak
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Posted on Sep 11 2008
The CNMI Junior Nationals are on a roll notching their third win in a row after downing the Chalan Kanoa Saints, 63-49, in the 2008 Saipan Rotary Club Youth Basketball League Wednesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
The Junior Nationals lost their debut in the 18-and-under caging after bowing to perennial rival Southern Sonics. But the Rufino Aguon-coached squad regrouped early and began asserting their might in the annual tournament.
The Saints have yet to win in three matches, failing to capitalize on the absence of Junior Nationals gunner Jericho Cruz in the first half.
Cruz was nursing a minor injury and was on the defending champion’s bench in the entire first 20 minutes of the game.
With Cruz out, Marvin Rabauliman carried the cudgels for the Junior Nationals. He scored 12 of the team’s last 14 points in the first half to put the Junior Nationals on top at halftime, 31-29.
Joseph White teamed up with Rabauliman in keeping the Junior Nationals in the lead, making eight points in the first half.
Cruz started playing a few minutes after the second half began and picked up where Rabauliman left off, hitting all his 13 markers in that period.
Still, Rabauliman topscored for the Junior Nationals with 21 points. White and Allen Moses contributed 14 and 11 markers, respectively.
The Saints had only Zack Tudela scoring in double figures with 17, but he nailed most of his points in the first half and was held to five markers in the second.
The win against the Saints put the Junior Nationals in solo second place behind the undefeated Sonics (4-0).
The Sonics were hoping to extend their winning run to five last night against the G-Rollers II.
In tonight’s match, the two other unbeaten teams—the San Antonio Sixers and G-Rollers I—collide at 5:30 pm. The Sixers and G-Rollers share the third spot in the team standings with their identical 2-0 records.
Junior Nationals 63 – Rabauliman 21, White 14, Cruz 13, Moses 11, Castro 4.
Saints 49 – Tudela 1, Reyes 8, Cruz 5, Manas 4, Williams 4, Kaipat 3, Tenorio 2, Masga 2, Lizama 2.
Scoring by halves: 31-29, 63-49.
Referees: Gabriel White and Connie Camacho.
