Docomo 2 wins U15 tourney

Docomo 2 Rollers defeated Docomo 4 Rollers, 56-38, on Sunday night to win the Unified Basketball Association’s U15 Islander Youth Basketball Tournament held over the weekend at the Garapan Basketball Court.

Docomo 2 recovered from a 29-26 shocker sniffed out by the pesky Docomo 4 band earlier in the semifinals.

Docomo 2 went through the Micronesian Brokers, Inc. Rollers, 52-39, and advanced past the Docomo Lady Gaga, 40-25, before being shocked by a vivacious Docomo 4 band.

Docomo 2 came out much more aggressive in the finals and saved face with a high-octane performance that put to bed an up-and-coming group made mostly of U12 contenders.

Docomo 2 battled back and downed third placer MBI Rollers, 51-32, again in the lower bracket finals for another crack at its young rivals.

In the finals, Docomo 2’s shooters caught fire late in the opening period and scooted ahead, 38-22, at the half.

Docomo 4’s C.J. Morales carried the torch for his team, scoring his team’s first 14 points. Morales connected with a couple of 3-pointers and dashed inside for some nifty strikes through the lane.

Docomo 4, however, erased this damage with five long-range bombs, three of which came from J.P. Iglesias who led the champs in the first half with 11 points on the other end.

Morales was held to just one basket in the second frame and although his teammate Quin Amoa managed seven points in the late minutes, the Cinderella finish was not to be as Docomo 2 coasted to the anticlimactic victory.

Iglesias and Renen Lansang combined for 21 points in the win.

Docomo 4 advanced to the main stage undefeated by going through Docomo 3 Hoops, 37-26, and then Docomo 5 Youth Rollers, 46-16, in preliminary play.

Looking back on their big upset in the semifinal, Docomo 4 buried a trio of 3-pointers in the first half; two came from Morales who led the field at mid-point with eight markers.

Docomo 2’s Toshi Pangelinan managed six points in the first canto, but the rest of the squad was pretty well held in check by a scrappy Docomo 4 unit, 15-11, at halftime.

Docomo 2 keyed on Morales in the second half and contained him to just one bucket, but the young gun still managed to work the offense through teammates Mike Espinosa and Kyle Rios, who combined for nine points in the clutch.

Docomo 2’s Irvyn Malonzo scrambled for six checks in a late rally cry, but Docomo 4 held strong and closed the deal.

Morales and Rios teamed up for 18 points in the match, while no one from Docomo 2 exceeded six.

They may have ran out of steam in the main event, but kudos to the duo and the whole Docomo 4 gang for finally savoring a win over their older counterparts. The group has come close on a number of occasions and finally chalked at least one win up in their favor.

Both the champion and runner-up squads will receive team trophies after conclusion of the UBA’s U25 division scheduled for early March. Six teams make up the U15 field.

The action continues this Friday with the U17 division tourney on Saturday and Sunday starting at 4:30pm; weather permitting.

Slots are still available for both the U17 and U25 divisions. Entrance forms can be obtained at the Safety 1st System office located along Middle Road, in Gualo Rai or at the Garapan Community and Development Center.

Docomo Pacific and the UBA, as well as partners Hoopaholics 670 and the 670 Rollers Basketball Club, sponsor the event.

The main purpose of the series is to promote youth sports activities during the peak of basketball season. It also serves as good practice for players that may be appearing in the U25 March Madness Pacific Regional Championships event in Guam slated for March,and the highly anticipated U17 Micronesian Basketball Tournament this June.

For registration or more information, contact UBA’s James Lee at 483-0290, GCDC’s Joe Diaz at 233-8978 or email unifiedbasketballassociation@gmail.com.
[B] Docomo 2 56[/B] – Iglesias 11, Lansang 10, Feria 6, Malonzo 6, Factor 5, Pangelinan 5, Ano 4, Vevero 4, Camacho 3, Floresca 2.