Mix Breed noses out Ballz Deep

Mix Breed’s Greg Sablan, left, pulls up for a point-blanked shot against Ballz Deep’s Jude Tengco during their boys U19 division game in the 3×3 Hoopfest Marianas 2017 yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Mix Breed escaped with a 12-11 victory over Ballz Deep to make it to the win column of the 3×3 Hoopfest Marianas 2017 yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Greg Sablan knocked in a long jumper from the left key in the closing seconds of the 10-minute game to lift Mix Breed past Ballz Deep in their boys U19 division game. Sablan went on to score Mix Breed’s last three markers for the team’s win in the opening day of the tournament.

Coby Santos, N-nes Siech, and Kiku Lizama are the other members of Mix Breed. Santos finished with 6 points, while Siech chipped in 3. Kenji Abobo paced Ballz Deep with his 5 markers, while Jude Tengco and Keeanu Diaz contributed 4 and 2, respectively. Ronel Aque is the fourth member of Ballz Deep.

In the other U19 division match on Day 1 of the Saipan leg of the 3×3 Hoopfest Marianas 2017, LeAir Ballers topped Half Gang, 16-11.

Duncan Laxa tallied 6 points for LeAir Ballers, while Keno Ogasawara and Sean Apasan made 4 points each, and Dondi Ferrer recorded 2. Sunjoon Tenorio carried Half Gang on his shoulders, as he fired a game-high 10 points, while A.J. Hudkins scored the other marker for the losing squad.

In other results, Ballers Bros and Fab 4 prevailed in boys U16 and women’s division games, respectively.

Ballers Bros was pitted against Boonkgang and pulled off a 10-8 triumph.

Khristian Itaas knocked in the go-ahead basket and also led Ballers Bros in scoring with his 5 points. Anthony Lajara chipped in 4 markers, while Drew Bayot had one. Stephen Bartolo also suited up for Ballers Bros, while Paolo Cadag and Adonis Favor played for Boonkgang and registered 3 markers each. J.C. Ferrari and Christian Bravo made the 2 other points for Boonkgang.

In the women’s open division, Fab 4 eased past Blue Babes, 11-4. Eleina Santos towed Fab 4 to victory with her 6 points and was backed up by Annalei Santos and Jan Taimano, who recorded 3 and 2 points, respectively. Halle Kenty is also part of the winning team, while Tawnie Manibusan and Quina Flores were the scorers for Blue Babes. Also included on the losing squad’s roster are Gillian and Jennifer Villagomez.

Meanwhile, seven more games were scheduled in the opening day of the 3×3 Hoopfest Marianas 2017 and complete results of these matches will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Thursday edition. There were two more U19 division matches set for Day 1 (Big B vs Ol’Aces 2 and Warriors vs V-God), while the five remaining games were to feature four men’s tiffs and one women’s.

Teams playing in the men’s and women’s open are battling for tickets to Vanuatu for the 2017 Pacific Mini Games. The Saipan leg of the Mini Games qualifier will run until Saturday and winners will join Tinian and Rota top finishers in the championship round that will be played later this month.