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Micronesian Basketball Tournament is on
The 2015 Micronesian Basketball Tournament U15 will push through as planned, according to Basketball Association of Northern Mariana Islands’ Elias Rangamar.
The regional competition (western division) for players in the 15-and-under age group will run from July 12 to 18 at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium with three teams from the CNMI battling the representatives of Palau and Guam.
The Marianas Dolphins will open the hostilities in the weeklong tournament this Sunday as they collide against Palau in the 4pm game. In the second match in the opening day at 6pm, Guam will take on Marianas Alu’u, while the CNMI’s third team—Marianas Tataga—will have its debut on July 13 against Palau at 4pm.
There will be two games per playing day in the youth tournament and after the round-robin play only the Top 4 teams will advance to the playoffs. The top finisher will then challenge the No. 4 squad for the first finals ticket, while the No. 2 and 3 teams will duel for the other championship berth. Winners of the Final Four pairings will face off in the finals on July 18 at 6pm after the 4pm consolation match.
Meanwhile, the Marianas Dolphins, Alu’u, and Tataga are seeing action in the 2015 Liberation Day Tournament in preparation for the MBT.
The Marianas Dolphins went 2-0 in the junior division of the Lib Day caging before games last Saturday and Sunday were postponed due to Tropical Storm Chan-Hom.
The Dolphins first crushed Alu’u, 73-40, last Thursday before notching another lopsided victory against Tataga last Friday, 85-37.
Four Dolphins players scored in twin digits in their 45-point win over Tataga. Chris Arceo led the way with his 12 points, while Dalton Dancoe chipped in 11, and Jude Tengco and Aaron Ogumoro contributed 10 apiece.
The Dolphins built a baker’s dozen advantage at the break, 20-7, and continued to pull away in the second half behind its balance offense.
Against Alu’u, Dancoe and Tengco also registered double figures, knocking in 15 points apiece. Dancoe anchored the Dolphins’ offense in the first half, nailing 11 of his total points to give his team a comfortable 31-17 advantage. Tengco then took over in the second half where he poured all his points en route to the Dolphins’ easy victory.
