Kagman routs Tinian in finale

Kagman High SchooL’s Jeff Castro drives against two Tinian High School defenders, while teammate Roke Tenorio steps into the play during the second quarter of their title game in the Settsu-Saipan caging last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Kagman High School took the championship in the boys division of the 2016 Settsu-Saipan Friendship Basketball Tournament after whipping Tinian High School in the winner-take-all finale, 67-44, last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Ayuyus had a strong start in the finals and went for the kill in the third period to take the easy win and top the division that also featured two teams each from Marianas High School, Saipan Southern High School and one apiece from Agape Christian School and Mt. Carmel School.

The Ayuyus led by double digits at the end of the first and second quarters, 17-5, and 33-32, and then broke away in the third, 59-32, as fatigue caught up with Tinian and the visiting teams fired up blanks in the penultimate frame.

Tinian, which along with Kagman had little time to recover in the finals after beating MHS 1 and SSHS 1, respectively, in the semis games on the same day, was still facing a manageable deficit, 28-36, when the Ayuyus’ guns went blazing in the pivotal third.

Kagman outgunned the Stallions, 23-4, in the last five minutes of the third period to break the game wide open. Roke Tenorio capped the Ayuyus’ scoring spree with a triple at the buzzer, lifting his team to a commanding 59-32 advantage, entering the final canto. Tenorio’s trey was Kagman’s third in that quarter with Mike Muna and Darion Jones knocking in one apiece, while Aaron Ogumoro scored 6 of his 9 points in the telling period.

Ogumoro ended up top-scoring for Kagman with his 9 markers and although no Ayuyus player broke into double figures, their balance offense was enough to romp them past the misfiring Tinian crew. Jones and Jeff Castro added 8 each, Tenorio and Dizon Magofna contributed 7 apiece, while five of their teammates combined for 25 markers.

Dboy Cruz paced Tinian with his 10 points, but was held to one field goal in the second-half meltdown. Garreth Jumao chipped in 9, but also struggled in the second half, while Paka Sablan and Juanis King registered 7 apiece, failing to hit baskets in streaks.

Tinian played catch up all though out the match after canning only one field goal in the first period off Romeo Omar’s layup. Paka Sablan scored the Stallions’ three other points from the charities, while Kagman drew baskets from seven different players to establish the 12-point advantage. The Ayuyus kept the safe distance at the break, as they continued to get contributions from every player they fielded in the game and then broke Tinian’s back late in the third.

Kagman 67— Ogumoro 9, Jones 8, Castro 8, Tenorio 7, Magofna 7, Palino 6, Lizama 6, Muna 5, Jepen 4, Islam 4, Torres 3, Arceo 2.

Tinian 44 —Cruz 10, Jumao 9, P. Sablan 7, King 7, San Nicolas 6, Omar 3, Epity 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-5, 33-22, 59-32, 67-44.