Back-to-back for GCA Eagles

Grace Christian Academy clinched its second straight boys junior varsity championship after downing Mt. Carmel School in the finals of the 2011-2012 Coalition of Private Schools Sports Association Basketball League, 35-34, last Friday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

The Eagles, who won last year’s JV finals against Saipan International School, 33-23, built an early double-digit lead in the second quarter and then withstood the Knights’ late rally for a successful title defense.

GCA led by as much as 17 in the second quarter, 24-7, after limiting MCS to only one field goal in that period. The Eagles had 12 points in the second canto, turning a 12-5 advantage at the end of the first frame to a twin-digit lead at the break. Billy Hinson anchored the attack, making seven in the second quarter, while Karlo De Leon added two to finish with eight markers at the half. Kobee Mendoza and Josiah Trinidad nailed five and four points, respectively to complete the Eagles’ balance scoring in the first half.

The Knights had only three players making it to the scoreboard and none posted more than one field goal in the first half before Quinn Amog fired seven points in the third and tried to bring MCS back into the game. The Knights outscored GCA for the first time in the third off Amog’s seven points and Andrew Kim’s two, 9-5, but the Eagles were still on top by double digits, 29-16, after 24 minutes of play.

Ahead by 13, entering the fourth canto, GCA coach Genesis Prieto used his bench in the final period and MCS capitalized on the absence of the Eagles’ starters to mount a comeback.

The Knights cut the lead to three, 32-35, with 28 seconds to go and had a chance to tie the game after Amir Abes missed a jumper. However, M. Ogasanara went for a layup instead of a triple, made the basket, and MCS ran out of time for another possession.

De Leon and Mendoza top-scored in GCA’s title win with 10 points apiece, while Hinson and Trinidad combined for 15. Other members of the team are Renmar Daproza, Noah Camacho, Abes, Jason Pixley, Robert Marmito, Matthew Mamaril, Joshua Arroyo, Feodor Rapadas, Joseph Lifoifoi, FJ Dalusung, and Scott Jo.

Prieto, who clinched his second championship in three years of coaching the Eagles, said winning this year again capped a great season for GCA, which was undefeated in 10 games in the regular season.

“This was really a great experience for our players, including the younger ones. I tried to put everyone in the game to give each player a chance to play in a championship match. I knew that MCS would have a run in the end, but the boys did not give up and we finished the game with a win. It was a pleasure coaching these players. We have fun and it was a great season for everyone,” said Prieto, who thanked the Eagles supporters.

“The support from the parents, teachers, and schoolmates was just phenomenal. Thank you to Sheryl Joy Prieto, Alain Nunez, Neill Conti, and Henry Yu for their help in every game,” the GCA mentor added.

The Eagles made it to the title game after beating Marianas Baptist Academy in the first round of the playoffs, while the Knights defeated Seventh Day Adventist and SIS to earn the second finals berth.