Guam sweeps boys, girls U17 MBT

  As expected Guam swept the boys and girls 17-and-under Micronesian Basketball Tournament finals last Saturday with victories over Palau and CNMI 1, respectively, at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

But while the U.S. territory’s U17 men’s national team hardly broke into a sweat in their 100-58 demolition of an overmatched Palau five, Guam’s girls team trailed for the first time in a quarter before wearing down CNMI 1, 70-56.

In typical fashion, the Guam boys got off to a solid start limiting Palau to 4 points in the game’s first seven minutes of play to go up by double digits.

Palau, however, regrouped in the final minutes of the opening quarter to trim their deficit to 11 points, 12-23.

The only competitive sequence of the championship game saw Medermel Yaoch and Cullen Carlson go toe-to-toe against Guam’s big boys by scoring Palau’s last 8 points.

Guam, however, left no doubt about the finals outcome as head coach Brent Tipton unleashed the team’s dreaded full-court press at the start of the second quarter.

All of a sudden, Palau ball-handlers had difficulty crossing halfcourt as a swarm of Guam players harassed them at every turn.

More often than not Palau players were stripped off the ball and that led to easy transition baskets for Guam.

If Palau did break the press, shooters had little or time or option but jack up a poor percentage shot in traffic. These resulted in long rebounds and Guam feasted on open fastbreak buckets.

Forward Rashaun Blas and guard Sam Setik capitalized the most on Guam’s leak-out plays, as the duo combined for 19 points in the second quarter as the U.S. territory rested at the half in full control, 59-27.

Guam’s regulars sat majority of the third quarter, but Palau failed to gain any headway even against the powerhouse team’s reserves.

With Blas scoring 4 more and seldom-used Javier Dimla firing 5 points, Guam doubled up Palau, 86-42, heading into the fourth canto.

Behind Raddison Dorado and Carlson, who both scored 7 points in the final quarter, Palau finally hummed offensively against Guam’s second-stringers in the championship game’s final 10 minutes.

Palau did outscore Guam, 16-14, in the fourth quarter but it hardly made a dent on the U.S. territory’s mammoth lead as the eventual champions won the game and the tournament running away.

Center Michael Sakazaki, who according to coach Tipton is the only all-star in a team made up of role players, tied Blas for team scoring honors with 16 markers.

While unheralded Sam Setik this time outscored his twin brother Sammy, 16-13.

Dorado paced Palau in the loss with a game-high 18, while Carlson added 11. Marvic Ngchar, the hero of their win against CNMI 1, struggled all game long against Guam’s defense and ended up with 10 markers.

In the girls finals, one day after the CNMI boys U17 team was upset by Palau, the home crowd finally had something to cheer about when the CNMI girls U17 team led Guam after the first quarter.

With leading scorers Liamwar Rangamar and Jamie Mendoza shooting from all angles for 6 and 8 points, respectively, CNMI 1 shocked Guam by taking a 22-16 advantage going into the second quarter.

Guam, however, buckled down to work at the start of the second canto. Behind Destiny Castro 10 points, the U.S. territory turned the tables on CNMI 1 to lead by 10 points, 42-32, at intermission.

CNMI 1 tried to recapture their first quarter magic in the second half and were at times successful by cutting the lead to 9 points an several occasions.

But just when the home team seemed headed for a breakthrough, CNMI 1 would botch an open layup, misfire on an easy putback, or go 0-for-2 from the foul line.

Guam in contrast made good on their opportunities, as they hustled down on defense and ran hard for fastbreak forays and a result they were able to open a sizeable lead against upset-conscious CNMI 1, 53-38, with a quarter to go in the finals.

Castro teamed up with Kali Benavente to put on the finishing touches in their championship victory, firing 5 and 6 markers, respectively, in the payoff period as Guam repulsed CNMI 1’s last-ditch stand and won by 14 points.

Kara Duenas controlled the inside all game long to finish with 17 points to lead Guam, while Castro and Benevante added 16 and 14.

Rangamar was brilliant in defeat with a game-high 22 markers, while Mendoza chipped in 13.

In the earlier games, CNMI 2 beat Tinian, 57-46, to win third place in the girls; while CNMI 1 edged Tinian, 87-84, to claim second runner-up honors in the boys.

GIRLS

Guam 70 – Duenas 17, Castro 16, Benavente 14, Bunto 8, Yeban 6, Mendiola 4, Pangilinan 3, Quitugua 2.

CNMI 1 56 – Rangamar 22, Mendoza 13, Ito 7, Abrams 7, Williams 4, Rios 2.

Scoring by quarters: 16-22, 42-32, 53-38, 70-56.

BOYS

Guam 100 – Sakazaki 16, Blas 16, Sam Setik 16, Sammy Setik 13, Taitano 8, Oledan 8, Merrill 6, Quichocho 6, Dilma 5, Flores 4, Jose 2.

Palau 58 – Dorado 18, Carlson 11, Ngchar 10, Wilter 8, Baysa 5, Yaoch 4, Ngemaes 2,

Scoring by quarters: 23-12, 59-27, 86-42, 100-58.