Nahum, Jonah rout opponents

A Nahum player is hounded by Haggai defenders during the first half of their game in the youth division of the Gen Cup last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Nahum and Jonah waltzed past their respective foes in the youth division of the 5th Genesis Cup Christian Churches Inter-Color Basketball League.

In the first game last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, Nahum pounded Haggai, 81-63, to enter the win column after three matches. In the second tiff, Jonah topped Ezra, 86-65, handing the latter its first defeat in four games. Jonah improved to a 2-1 record for a share of second place with idle Joel, while Ezra kept the No. 1 spot with its 3-1 slate.

Jethro Cruz and Sam Darag teamed up in Joel’s 21-point win over Ezra. They alternately peppered Ezra with triples and layups with Cruz eventually top-scoring for Jonah with his 36 points. Darag added 32, making 8 of Jonah’s last 10 points. The Marianas High School standout also had a string of 7 markers midway in the second half to complete Jonah’s breakaway, while Saipan Southern High School’s Cruz made 8 of their team’s first 12 markers in the final frame.

Darag and Cruz outgunned Ezra’s Jerald Santiago and Nathan Borromeo, who combined for 52 points. Santiago paced Ezra with his 32 markers, while Borromeo chipped in 20.

In the first game, Haoyu Chen sizzled for 31 points to power Nahum to an 18-point victory. Chen drew enough support from Chris Sacdalan and Jason Wang to help Nahum snap its losing skid. Sacdalan contributed 26 points, while Wang registered 12.

Davean Gonzales had 17 to lead Haggai, which remained winless in three games. B.L. Chen, Teemo Wang, and Seth Alonzo also finished in twin digits for Haggai, tallying 15, 14, and 10, respectively.

Meanwhile, in the lone game in the adults division last Tuesday, Jeremiah blew past Daniel, 83-67.

Michael Cabanas did most of the damage for Jeremiah, as he exploded for 45 points. Isagani Cortez and Fred Fatialofa backed him up, recording 17 and 16 points, respectively.

Jeremiah zoomed to a 47-24 halftime lead and withstood the repeated rallies of Daniel, which brought the deficit down to seven, but still fell short in the end. Marlo Ibanez and Jonathan Ibajan had 16 points apiece for Daniel.

With the victory, Jeremiah finished the round-robin regular season with a 5-2 record for second place behind Samuel, which was gunning for a seven-game sweep against Gideon (4-2) in the final preliminary match last night.

Daniel dropped to a 2-5 mark for seventh place. Ezekiel (4-3), Caleb (3-4), Joshua (2-5), and Isaiah (0-7) complete the standings. All eight teams will advance to the single-elimination playoff round, which will be played once the second round of the youth division is completed.

YOUTH
First Game
Nahum 81—Chen 31, Sacdalan 26, Wang 12, Cai 8, Bacani 2, Tenorio 2.
Haggai 63—Gonzales 17, Chen 15, Wang 14, Alonzo 10, Del Carmen 7.
Scoring by halves: 41-32, 81-63.

Second Game
Jonah 86— Cruz 36, Darag 32, Cabrera 8, Ponce 6, Marcellana 4.
Ezra 65—Santiago 32, Borromeo 20, Sumpay 8, Buno 4, De Jose 1.
Scoring by halves: 39-30, 86-65.

ADULTS
Jeremiah 83 — Cabanas 45, Cortez 17, Fatialofa 16, Buniag 3.
Daniel 67 — Ibanez 16, Ibajan 16, Morales 10, Calibo 9, Rabago 5, Borja 4, Abe 2.
Scoring by halves: 47-24, 83-67.