Dolphins regain title in MISO caging

Marianas High School reclaimed the boys varsity division title in the MISO Basketball League after eking out a 76-72 overtime win in its championship match against Kagman High School Friday night at the MHS Gymnasium.

Joseph Ada top-scored for the Dolphins with 36 points. But it was MHS’ Twin Towers Clayton Kenty and Noel Soria who gave the eventual champions a big lift in the exciting finale that took extra five minutes to finish.

The Ayuyus had chances to win the game in regulation and end their title drought, but they missed crucial free throws in the closing seconds of the fourth quarter.

Ben Lisua tied the game at 64-all, after he attacked the MHS defense, made the basket, and drew a foul from Kenty, with 4.6 seconds remaining in the payoff period.

Lisua, who earlier completed a 3-point play to tie the game at 62-all, muffed the bonus shot.

There was a battle for the long rebound won by Kyle Concepcion, who was then nudged by Wes Tomokane at the right baseline, as the latter tried to steal the ball.

Concepcion trooped to the 15-foot line for the first time and amid the deafening noise from the crowd, missed both charities.

Trevor Ogumoro claimed the offensive rebound, but with only 1.6 seconds left on the clock, failed to pull up for a decent shot, as he was partially blocked by Kenty.

The Ayuyus never recovered from their free throw woes, as they started to fall apart in overtime, committing too many turnovers, giving up fouls, and muffing a couple of charities, anew.

In contrast, MHS, which failed to defend its title last season after bowing to Saipan Southern High School, 99-111, showed poise in the extension period with Ada making six points and drawing contributions from Kenty and Soria, who nailed three markers apiece.

Soria canned his second free throw in the last 0.6 of a second in overtime to put icing on the cake. Soria finished with 11 points, and he, along with Kenty and Tomokane, gave MHS depth inside, collaring rebounds and making undergoal stabs.

Kenty was the second-leading scorer for MHS with 15 points, making 10 of them from the paint in the first quarter to give the Dolphins a good start.

Soria and Kenty filled the void left by Jericho Cruz and Marvin Rabauliman on both the Dolphins’ offense and defense. Cruz and Rabauliman were kicked off the team, a week before the title match.

MHS controlled the game from the opening tip until midway in the fourth quarter, leading by as much as 11 points, 56-47, before Jesus Iguel and Lisua brought the Ayuyus back into the game.

But Iguel sat out in the remaining minute of the fourth period due to a minor injury on his left thigh. He bumped into an MHS players on several occasions in the second half and was forced to return to the bench limping. He then fouled out in the opening minutes of the overtime.

KHS had four players fouling out and the Ayuyus gave up 35 fouls, allowing MHS to go 20-for-41 from the foul line.

Only Zack Tudela fouled out for the Dolphins and they had only 22 fouls, giving Kagman only 19 free throws with the Ayuyus nailing only eight.
[B] MHS 76[/B] – Ada 36, Keny 15, Soria 11, Tomokane 6, Tudela 4, Untalan 3, Villegas 2.