G-Stars extend winning streak

The G-Stars continued to flash their brilliance in the 2008 Rotary Club Youth Basketball League thumping the Kontenders, 57-38, Thursday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

It was the G-Stars fourth win in a row, boosting their chances to finish in the top four and be paired with lowly-ranked squad in the playoffs.

The G-Stars, who improved to a 4-2 record, are currently in third place behind the league-leading San Antonio Sixers (7-0), and the CNMI Junior Nationals (6-0).

The G-Stars last two games will be against the Rollers I and the Junior Nationals. The Jose Tumaquip-coached G-Stars were supposed to face the Rollers I last night, but the Oleai Sports Complex venue was closed late afternoon.

The G-Stars will collide with the CNMI Junior Nationals at the end of the regular season on Thursday.

The G-Stars played in their first game last week after taking a weeklong break due to Tumaquip’s absence. The G-Stars mentor was in Guam coaching the CNMI Women’s Junior Nationals.

The G-Stars were without Tumaquip anew when they met the Kontenders, giving Tyrone Omar a chance to call the shots for the team.

Despite Tumaquip’s absence, the G-Stars had an easy time against the Kontenders, who missed key players Soane Pua and Jester Kaipat.

Pua and Kaipat had a solid game in the Kontenders’ 63-60 win over the Chalan Kanoa Saints on Oct 6. Kaipat and Pua combined for 21 points to snap the Kontenders four-game losing streak

Now, the Kontenders ended their regular season campaign on a losing note, dropping to a 3-5 record.

The Kontenders were still in contention in the first half, trailing by only three, 20-17.

But the G-Stars stepped on the gas in the second half, drawing contributions from every player Omar fielded in the game to nail an easy 19-point win.

Nate Mateo tops-cored for the G-Stars with 14 points and drew support from seven other players. The G-Stars had three players scoring four points apiece. Sean Sablan chipped in six, Joseph Jung added seven, and Dan Mateo and Ryan Ichihara had eight each.

Trevor Ogumoro carried the load for the Kontenders, firing a game-high 17 points, while Eugene Dillay contributed nine. Only Ogumoro had more than one field goal for the Kontenders in the second half, as the rest of his teammates struggled offensively and had to bleed for points from the free-throw line.

Dillay was without a field goal and had three charities in the second half. A.J. Kileleman and D.J. Ngirachongor had one field goal apiece, while Jordan Tagabuel scored a free throw and one field goal.

Despite the loss, the Kontenders are already assured of a slot in the playoffs, joining the G-Stars, Sixers, Rollers I, Suns, Chalan Kanoa Saints, Southern Sonics, and the CNMI Junior Nationals in the next round.

The last three games in the 18-and-under caging will decide the playoffs pairings which will have the No. 1 squad colliding with the No. 8 team, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6, and No. 4 vs. No. 5.

Tonight, the two unbeaten teams—the CNMI Junior Nationals and Sixers—will duel for the pennant.

Tomorrow, the Rollers I will challenge the Saints.

G-Stars 57 – N. Mateo 14, D. Mateo 8, Ichihara 8, Jung 7, Sablan 6, Kenty 4, Manalili 4, S. Rangamar 4.

Kontenders 38 – Ogumoro 17, E. Dillay 9, Ngirachongor 6, Tagabuel 3, Kileleman 2, D. Dillay 1.

Scoring by halves: 20-17, 57-38.