MCS Knights back in finals

Mt. Carmel School’s Jeremiah Diaz, left, tries to dribble past a Marianas Baptist Academy defender during the fourth quarter of their semis game in the private school caging yesterday at the MCS Gymnasium in Chalan Kanoa. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Mt. Carmel School earned a return trip to the finals of the boys middle school division following a 45-22 rout of Marianas Baptists Academy in the first semis game in the 2016-2017 Commonwealth Coalition of Private School Association Basketball League yesterday at the MCS Gymnasium in Chalan Kanoa.

The Knights eased their way to Monday’s championship match after dominating MBA right from the get-go. The defending champions, who edged Agape Christian School in last year’s finale (40-38), went on an 18-0 scoring surge in the first quarter, denying MBA any hopes to pull off an upset in their semifinal game.

James San Nicolas, Merrick Toves, and Vince Salvador combined for 13 points for Mt. Carmel in the first half, while Juan Guerrero and Aldraine Galang also hit the board in the opening six minutes of the Final Four duel.

Galang, who had a field goal in the first period, added 5 more points, while Salvador chipped in 4 as the Knights outgunned MBA by a point in the second canto for a 27-8 advantage. Christian Palatao registered 5 of MBA’s 8 markers in the second period and also scored the team’s first basket to end their drought.

After slowing down a bit on offense in the second frame, MCS again hit double figures in the third with its 13 markers to pull away further, 40-17. The Knights had more scoring options in the second half and showed better skills than MBA, which has only Elijah Villamero and Kemuel Cheng making it to the board in the penultimate quarter.

With the game secured, MCS used some time and its other players in the fourth-quarter cleanup, while MBA failed to make headway and bowed out of competition.

The Knights’ foe in next week’s finals has yet to be determined, as Agape and Saipan Community School will contest the last finals slot. SCS arranged the semifinals tiff with Agape today after beating Saipan International School, 23-19, yesterday at the SCS campus.

The victor between Agape and SCS will have a chance to strip the Knights of their title in Monday’s championship showdown.

The Francis San Nicolas-coached Mt. Carmel is undefeated this season, gaining its 13th victory yesterday after ousting MBA. Though heavily favored to win its second straight division title, San Nicolas as always reminded his players not to be over confident.

“Our mission is not yet done. We’ve got one more game to win so it’s not over yet and we should not be too complacent even if we have beaten every team we faced this season. Other squads are scouting us we should be prepared to make adjustments on game time (finals) and work harder,” said San Nicolas, who saw Agape coach Noel Puno watching their semis match against MBA.

“As the tournament progresses, each team improves so you can’t take any squad lightly. We’re almost there and need one final push and focus,” San Nicolas added.

MCS 45 – San Nicolas 12, Galang 11, Salvador 10, Toves 7, Guerrero 3, Diaz 2.

MBA 22 – Villamero 8, Cheng 7, Palatao 5, Acosta 2.

Scoring by quarters: 18-0, 27-8, 40-17, 45-22.